LOCAL ARTIST
ptor explores sea

Scu

SHRIMP, COD and squid aren't limited to the
confines of the sea or aquarium.

Schools of fish and other
marine life reel and whirl in
equal abundance in the ce-
ramic murals of John
Givins.

The clay art allows Givins

By DEAN CUMMER

a medium to recreate his
briny subjects with uncanny
three-dimensional] realism.

“In my latest mural, peo-
ple thought I had actually
ghued-on the mussels,’’ says
Givins.

Givins’ obsession of
reproducing free-form, real-
istic sea creatures stems from
a deep-rooted understanding
of nature.

Givins says form and
clean lines belong to the
realm of civilization.
“Nature isn’t like that. It’s
decaying trees and imperfec-
tions — free form organic,’’
explains Givins.

Sea life is a part of nature
that man cannot normally
view in its natural habitat. It

fy:
Le,

ied

NEWS photo Terry Peters

RECREATING MARINE life in clay tiie, North Vancouver artist John Givins displays his latest ce-
ramic. mural. This work will grace a new hotel in Nanaimo. Givins prefers the clay medium because it
allows greater realism in his art. All of Givins work has been commissioned so there has never been
enough works coilected for an exhibit. Apart from creating his unique murals, Givins teaches sculpture

to children and teens at Delbrook.

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PAGE 62

provides Givins with unlimi-
ted subjects: ‘Fish are pretty
amazing creatures. ‘They can
look so outlandish.’’

Other aquine sculptors
prefer to go into the
abstract. Givins likes realism
“because you can’t improve
on what God's done. I enjoy
seeing life even if it’s only a
couple of eyes.’’

The ceramic medium
allows Givins 1o create a tac-
tile quality that painting
doesn’t have, yet his murals
incorporate painting as well.
“Working with clay allows
you to use a large range of
color,’* Givins explains.

Unfortunately, viewing
Givins’ work can be dif-
ficult. The murals can take
hundreds of hours to com-

plete, so the quantity is
limited.

Most are commissioned
for corporate or private
benefactors and are out of
the studio as soon as they
are completed, he explains.
There has never been enough
to assemble for an exhib-
ition.

His latest works have been
commissioned for the Icbby
of-a new hotel in Nanaimo.
Another murai was
displayed in the former
Grosvenor Hotel at the en-
trance of Livingstone’s
Lounge.

Apart from working on
murals, Givins teaches
sculpture classes at Delbrook
Community for teens and
children.

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