Devonian Gardens, the forever home for wood carvings created by beloved Calgarian Tom Ward
For over 40 years, more than 30 wood carvings created by local craftsperson, Tom Ward, have been on display at Devonian Gardens. They are hard to miss when you visit the park, with their striking, watchful faces carved into knots nestled among the lush foliage of this unique indoor green space.
They were loaned to The City on a handshake and a smile back in 1986. A prolific craftsperson, Tom never sold any of his creations but instead loaned it to organizations that displayed them. From the late 1960s until his death in 1984, Tom carved approximately 200 masks out of pine and spruce burls harvested from the Jumping Pound Area of Alberta.
On March 6, The City and Tom Ward’s family are honouring the Calgarian and his creations by signing a formal agreement ensuring the wood carvings stay on display at Devonian Gardens.
“It’s extremely important to our family that these carvings remain in a public place where they can be appreciated by park visitors,” said Tim Ward, Tom’s son.
Carving was just one of Tom’s hobbies that helped him unwind after a day working in The City’s planning department and later as lead for The City’s first bylaw enforcement office.
“My father was a prolific craftsperson,” said Tim. “While he was recovering in England following the Second World War, someone showed him how to do needlepoint. From there he started also creating rugs and then taught himself wood carving.”
Tom, along with his family and neighbours, built an outdoor studio and community gathering place in his backyard. There, he would work in front of an enormous fireplace for 10 to 20 hours per week. The family also made numerous trips outside Calgary to collect logs to fuel his passion.
“He got a permit from the Head of Forestry in those days to harvest dead and diseased trees that had knots,” said Tim. “We would go out in the dead of winter because the trees grew in areas with moist muskeg that were only accessible when it was really cold. So, we would trek in, cut down these logs with knots in them, carry them out then attach them to our 1950s four-door sedan and drive home.”
Tom was known as a generous force of nature that was always open to sharing his time, including teaching others how to carve and shared many conversations in front of the fire.
“He would look at a piece of wood and already see the creation he was going to make,” said Tim. “When he carved you could watch him take the face out of that piece of wood; that unto itself was unique.”
The family feels that there really is no better place than in a park for Tom’s unique wood carvings as he deeply loved the outdoors and the company of trees.
“Having his carvings in Devonian Gardens is really perfect, quite serendipitous; we actually couldn’t imagine them anywhere else,” said Tim, adding that he has heard this from many family members.