The Birds

Artist Bio

Leslie Alan Reynolds, sculptor, was born in 1947 in Edmonton, Alberta. Al has made a substantial influence in the Edmonton artistic community through his self-discipline and his willingness to share his vast experience with younger artists. Al has been making sculpture since 1968 in various materials from wood, clay, steel and others. His initial work in wood was encouraged in 1973 by American sculptor Michael Steiner. He turned to welded steel early in the 1980s, adapting his vision to this new material. In recent years his works have moved from abstracted cylindrical sculptures reminiscent of everyday objects and have taken on more anthropomorphic characteristics, exploring the subtleties of human form and movement. Until 2008 Al’s studios were located in Edmonton, and Al now lives and works in his studio in Bruce, Alberta.

Artist Statement

The Birds 

Some years back I made a bird feeding station for the little birds that came into my yard. It became for me and my bird dog, Porscha, one of our favorite things to watch was the little birds lining up to take their turn at the feeder. Over the years I played food games with the birds so they would come closer to the patio doors so my dog could view them close up. It became the treat of the day for Porscha and I to watch their antics. 

This small group of sculpture uses the general shape of pigeons as a starting point to make little metaphors of what I see in this world. Simple joy, hope and life's struggles are some of the things reflected in this little series of work. 

I had fun making this work and more fun naming the work. A little poetry in the titles to act as a brain worm to inspire the viewer to come to thoughts about the world and our place in it.