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Limina – A transformational project is complete
3/31/2023
“David has poetically, patiently, and emphatically created an image of grace and beauty that transcends words and thought. David has brought something before us that unveils layers that speak to the inherent tensions of human life and death. With simultaneous humble vulnerability and hopeful boldness, the figure safely shelters while captivating the visitor.”
Over the last few years David has had the privilege of working closely with Lise Owen Struthers to create the piece titled Limina for the Garden of Remembrance at St. John's Shaughnessy.
Lise, a longtime friend of the Robinson family, reached out to David in the midst of grieving the sudden loss of her husband. She had been engaging her grief with a level of deep, direct attention that I think few could muster in such a tumultuous time. And as she processed layer after layer of that tearing-away, she had come to discover new and surprising depths of life and beauty.
During contemplative moments, a vision had come to her, and she felt called to manifest it in the world. And so began a conversation with David about the piece that would eventually become Limina.
"David spent hours journeying with me, attentive to what I was experiencing, feeling, thinking. We exchanged beautiful prose that came into our orbits from others who have lived through similar loss. David Robinson is long-suffering and kind, thoughtful and attentive, contemplative, and through his work has remarkable skill and an uncanny knack for expressing the inherent tensions of human life - and holds you there suspended in that space. He is a creative national treasure."
Many people gathered around this project and contributed expertise, opportunity, and financial and emotional support, so that Lise and David's vision could be realized. Limina would not exist without the collective contributions of the Trustees at St. John’s Shaughnessy, Reverend Terry Dirbas, the SJS congregation, Incarnation Ministries, and the many people who personally invested in the creation of this artwork.
David writes:
A stone’s throw from the fast arterial flow of the street this silent vision would stand in the way of all art: that is, dreaming out loud for the benefit of them that pass. This lone figure, this empathic embodiment in bronze and steel, astride the elements, the seasons, generations - is heedless of time... With only gesture and poise her story is told in a single frame - the turning of a single page: That at the liminal moment a grace may rise. That the veil may yield to the yearning hand. And that light may fall upon the vigilant eye.
I myself have come to think of the vision of this work as like an anchor-hold of memory within the church garden; that there would stand this waiting and vulnerable figure, keeping vigil in dark northern hours, and ever attuned to a glimpse of the southern sky in which abides the sun; humanity’s most ancient dream-motif of the divine.
3/31/2023
“David has poetically, patiently, and emphatically created an image of grace and beauty that transcends words and thought. David has brought something before us that unveils layers that speak to the inherent tensions of human life and death. With simultaneous humble vulnerability and hopeful boldness, the figure safely shelters while captivating the visitor.”
~Lise Owen Struthers
Over the last few years David has had the privilege of working closely with Lise Owen Struthers to create the piece titled Limina for the Garden of Remembrance at St. John's Shaughnessy.
Lise, a longtime friend of the Robinson family, reached out to David in the midst of grieving the sudden loss of her husband. She had been engaging her grief with a level of deep, direct attention that I think few could muster in such a tumultuous time. And as she processed layer after layer of that tearing-away, she had come to discover new and surprising depths of life and beauty.
During contemplative moments, a vision had come to her, and she felt called to manifest it in the world. And so began a conversation with David about the piece that would eventually become Limina.
"David spent hours journeying with me, attentive to what I was experiencing, feeling, thinking. We exchanged beautiful prose that came into our orbits from others who have lived through similar loss. David Robinson is long-suffering and kind, thoughtful and attentive, contemplative, and through his work has remarkable skill and an uncanny knack for expressing the inherent tensions of human life - and holds you there suspended in that space. He is a creative national treasure."
~Lise
Many people gathered around this project and contributed expertise, opportunity, and financial and emotional support, so that Lise and David's vision could be realized. Limina would not exist without the collective contributions of the Trustees at St. John’s Shaughnessy, Reverend Terry Dirbas, the SJS congregation, Incarnation Ministries, and the many people who personally invested in the creation of this artwork.
David writes:
A stone’s throw from the fast arterial flow of the street this silent vision would stand in the way of all art: that is, dreaming out loud for the benefit of them that pass. This lone figure, this empathic embodiment in bronze and steel, astride the elements, the seasons, generations - is heedless of time... With only gesture and poise her story is told in a single frame - the turning of a single page: That at the liminal moment a grace may rise. That the veil may yield to the yearning hand. And that light may fall upon the vigilant eye.
I myself have come to think of the vision of this work as like an anchor-hold of memory within the church garden; that there would stand this waiting and vulnerable figure, keeping vigil in dark northern hours, and ever attuned to a glimpse of the southern sky in which abides the sun; humanity’s most ancient dream-motif of the divine.
~ David Robinson
Eastside Culture Crawl 2022
11/18/2022
We're welcoming visitors for this year's Eastside Culture Crawl, and the studio has a big selection of works-in-progress for show & tell, as well as our gallery of finished work. We hope you'll come by, see the space, and ask lots of questions!
The festival hours are 5-10pm on November 17th and 18th, and 11am-6pm on the 19th and 20th.
We can be accessed two ways: Our studio entrance is at 1101 William street (off Vernon Drive). We can also be accessed via the parking lot in front of Parker Street Studios - just follow the the ramp down on the South end of the lot and continue South down the hallway to our gallery door.
11/18/2022
We're welcoming visitors for this year's Eastside Culture Crawl, and the studio has a big selection of works-in-progress for show & tell, as well as our gallery of finished work. We hope you'll come by, see the space, and ask lots of questions!
The festival hours are 5-10pm on November 17th and 18th, and 11am-6pm on the 19th and 20th.
We can be accessed two ways: Our studio entrance is at 1101 William street (off Vernon Drive). We can also be accessed via the parking lot in front of Parker Street Studios - just follow the the ramp down on the South end of the lot and continue South down the hallway to our gallery door.
25th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl
10/28/2021
We are thrilled to be welcoming the public back for our 25th Eastside Culture Crawl. The Eastside Arts Society has done a tremendous amount of work to adapt to changing conditions and has planned a wonderful festival for November.
We will be open on both weekends: November 12th -14th is by appointment only with scheduling available here. November 18th - 21st is the usual Open House format. Please note - for smaller studios such as ours that cap visitors to 50 or fewer, vaccine passport-checking is discretionary, and Robinson Studios will not require passports. But be prepared to show your passport for the majority of participating studios including 1000 Parker Street.
Masking, distancing and self-screening for symptoms are mandatory in all studios.
Appointments
A few notes about the Culture Crawl scheduler:
This system allows up to 10 visitors to book in any given timeslot. This means that if your party has fewer than 10 people, other visitors can book during your slot as well. If you'd prefer to have a private visit please contact us for details.
Location
After 30 years at Parker Street Studios we moved to a new location in 2020, so the Crawl experience will be a little different this year. Our location at 1101 William Street has the studio and gallery under one roof. Visitors will be able to see the production space as well as the gallery, including several works-in-progress.
The main doors at William street bring you to the workshop space first. From there you can connect through to the gallery. Our space is also accessible from the Parker Street Studios parking lot (where the food trucks gather). Follow the signage down the south ramp and down the south hallway to enter via our gallery doors.
For wheelchair or other stair-free access please use the Parker street entry route.
We look forward to seeing you!
10/28/2021
We are thrilled to be welcoming the public back for our 25th Eastside Culture Crawl. The Eastside Arts Society has done a tremendous amount of work to adapt to changing conditions and has planned a wonderful festival for November.
We will be open on both weekends: November 12th -14th is by appointment only with scheduling available here. November 18th - 21st is the usual Open House format. Please note - for smaller studios such as ours that cap visitors to 50 or fewer, vaccine passport-checking is discretionary, and Robinson Studios will not require passports. But be prepared to show your passport for the majority of participating studios including 1000 Parker Street.
Masking, distancing and self-screening for symptoms are mandatory in all studios.
Appointments
A few notes about the Culture Crawl scheduler:
This system allows up to 10 visitors to book in any given timeslot. This means that if your party has fewer than 10 people, other visitors can book during your slot as well. If you'd prefer to have a private visit please contact us for details.
Location
After 30 years at Parker Street Studios we moved to a new location in 2020, so the Crawl experience will be a little different this year. Our location at 1101 William Street has the studio and gallery under one roof. Visitors will be able to see the production space as well as the gallery, including several works-in-progress.
The main doors at William street bring you to the workshop space first. From there you can connect through to the gallery. Our space is also accessible from the Parker Street Studios parking lot (where the food trucks gather). Follow the signage down the south ramp and down the south hallway to enter via our gallery doors.
For wheelchair or other stair-free access please use the Parker street entry route.
We look forward to seeing you!
Dead Reckoning Monumental installed at Trent University
9/8/2021
We are excited to announce the installation of Dead Reckoning at Trent University as part of their 50 year anniversary of rowing excellence! We are grateful for the tremendous support we received from Trent admin, alumni, staff and community as the project developed.
Dead Reckoning: (also ded for deduced)
noun: 1) Navigation without the aid of celestial observations. 2) An estimate based on little or no information.
Inspired by aero/nautical forms and their attendant navigational purposes, this work articulates a striving human imperative: the thrust and pull of free will encountering the real.
The rower is an image of will; poised and replete with focus and energy, needing only the means to discern in what direction this deeply felt purpose may lie.
9/8/2021
We are excited to announce the installation of Dead Reckoning at Trent University as part of their 50 year anniversary of rowing excellence! We are grateful for the tremendous support we received from Trent admin, alumni, staff and community as the project developed.
Dead Reckoning: (also ded for deduced)
noun: 1) Navigation without the aid of celestial observations. 2) An estimate based on little or no information.
Inspired by aero/nautical forms and their attendant navigational purposes, this work articulates a striving human imperative: the thrust and pull of free will encountering the real.
The rower is an image of will; poised and replete with focus and energy, needing only the means to discern in what direction this deeply felt purpose may lie.
Keith Beedie Tribute
7/6/2021
David recently had the privilege of creating a portrait in tribute to the great patron of 1000 Parker Street, Mr. Keith Beedie. Keith’s remarkable life is an inspiration to David, and Keith’s support for the arts community by the founding of Parker Street Studios has been instrumental in David’s career development. Ryan Beedie has continued that tradition of patronage and philanthropy, and all of us at the studio are grateful for the opportunity to have produced this piece for him. The portrait now has pride of place in the Founder’s Room at the Beedie offices. The story panel in the plinth draws on myriad elements of Keith’s life and legacy.
7/6/2021
David recently had the privilege of creating a portrait in tribute to the great patron of 1000 Parker Street, Mr. Keith Beedie. Keith’s remarkable life is an inspiration to David, and Keith’s support for the arts community by the founding of Parker Street Studios has been instrumental in David’s career development. Ryan Beedie has continued that tradition of patronage and philanthropy, and all of us at the studio are grateful for the opportunity to have produced this piece for him. The portrait now has pride of place in the Founder’s Room at the Beedie offices. The story panel in the plinth draws on myriad elements of Keith’s life and legacy.
