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On
March
14, 2005,
the City of Belleville proclaimed Bruce
Bedell as the official Town
Crier.
It had to be. After many
years in
Northern Ontario and South Western Ontario, Bruce came back home to Belleville
to carry
on the tradition of the Ancient Order of Bedellii.
The name, Bedell, means “officer of the
parish whose principle duty was to keep order, also was the town crier.”
What
exactly is a Town Crier? According to
Bruce’s book, The Book of Cries (available at the
Belleville Public Library), it is an eccentric extrovert who dresses up
and
runs around yelling at people.
In
the past a Town Crier was an important
messenger – it was the fastest way to get the word out.
So what is the use of a Town or Formal Crier
today? According to Bruce, they “add a
touch of elegance to important occasions such as weddings, festivals,
visiting
dignitaries. At a wedding, for example,
a Formal Crier can lead the bridal procession, introduce the wedded
couple to
the assembled guests, announce members of the bridal party, and lead a
parade
down the main street.”
Bruce
has won numerous awards as a Town
Crier. In addition to his 'crying', he
writes and performs in costumed historic one-man shows.
Bruce is also a teacher, an historian, a
writer, a poet, and a liar (he won first prize at the Quinte Arts
Council’s
2004 Liars’ Contest).
Sculpture by Bruce W. Bedell
Town Crier
This old Town Crier evolved from the tri-corn
hat downwards
to include a lace cravat and a high collared coat with an overcape.
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Wood Spirit
A spirit is evolving from this piece of wood!
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Endangered Species
What you see is your vision of the sculpture!
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Evolutionary sculpture
To quote Marshall McLuhan, "the
media is the message."
In evolutionary sculpture, the
subject and form of the piece of work is contained within the soapstone or
wood and it is released as the media is worked by the artist. Pieces
of evolutionary sculpture usually do not have a predetermined form but
evolve from the vision of the artist as the work proceeds.
Shows:
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario:
Ontario Winter Carnival "Bon Soo" Juried Art Shows
Heart and Stroke Foundation Charity Auctions
Coming of Summer Cultural Celebrations
Central Algoma Juried Art Show
Bruce Mines Juried Art Show
Chesterton Indiana:
Wizard of Oz Festival - Arts, Crafts and Collectables Shows
London, Ontario:
Tyrconnell Heritage Society Arts and Crafts Show |
