# Godfrey Stephens

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{{short description|Canadian artist (born 1939)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox artist
|name        = Godfrey Stephens
|image       = 
|image_size  = 
|caption     = 
|birth_name  = Godfrey Rupert Cripps Stephens
|birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1939|10|28|df=y}}
|birth_place = [Duncan, British Columbia](/source/Duncan%2C_British_Columbia), Canada
|nationality = 
|field       = {{Flatlist|
* Painter
* [Wood carving](/source/Wood_carving)
* [Boat building](/source/Boat_building)
}}
|training    = Self-taught
|website     = {{URL|https://www.godfreysart.com/}}
}}

'''Godfrey Rupert Cripps Stephens''' (born 28 October 1939) is a Canadian artist, best known for his protest sculpture ''Weeping Cedar Woman'' and large abstract wooden columns. His painting and sculpting style combines West Coast iconography from [First Nations](/source/First_Nations_in_Canada) references to classical Greek and nautical elements.<ref name="Gurdeep"/> He is also a wooden boat builder.<ref name="Kahn">{{cite book|last=Kahn|first=Lloyd|title=Tiny Homes on the Move|date=2014|publisher=Shelter Publications|location=California|isbn=978-0-936070-62-9|pages=174–179}}</ref>

== Life and work ==

Godfrey Stephens was born in Duncan, British Columbia. As a boy, he began an influential relationship with First Nations carver Chief [Mungo Martin](/source/Mungo_Martin) and [Tony Hunt](/source/Tony_Hunt_(artist)) and began carving.<ref name="Kahn 2008 100–109">{{cite book|last=Kahn|first=Lloyd|title=Builders of the Pacific Coast|date=2008|publisher=Shelter Publications|location=California|isbn=978-0-936070-43-8|pages=100–109}}</ref> He dropped out of school at the age of 14.<ref name="Amos">{{cite news|last=Amos|first=Robert|title=Folk artist a child at heart|newspaper=Islander|date=19 November 2000}}</ref> Mostly self-taught, living on his boats, Godfrey has painted and sculpted his whole life with no other occupation <ref name="Gurdeep"/> In 1973, the 24 foot tall abstract cedar columns were inaugurated at Victoria's Times Colonist Press buildings<ref>''[Times Colonist](/source/Times_Colonist)''. 22 February 1973 Daily columnist</ref> where they currently stand <ref>''Times Colonist'' articles</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Stephens|first=Gurdeep|title=Wood Storm Wild Canvas|date=2014|publisher=D and I Enterprises}}</ref> In 1971, at a ceremony to inaugurate the [Pacific Rim Park](/source/Pacific_Rim_Park), then Federal Parks Minister [Jean Chretien](/source/Jean_Chr%C3%A9tien) presented Princess Anne with a small wooden abstract carving the Parks Board commissioned from Godfrey.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Trebett|first1=Margaret|title=Teepee Workshop Produces A Gift for Royalty|work=Times Colonist |date=February 1971}}</ref> In 1984, Godfrey carved ''Weeping Cedar Woman'' to protest the logging of the ancient trees of Clay'quot Sound.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.westerlynews.ca/local-news/tofitians-seeking-funds-to-return-weeping-cedar-woman-to-tofino-1.800665 |title=Tofitians Seeking Funds to Return Weeping Cedar Woman to Tofino |publisher=westerlynews.ca |access-date=24 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719074957/http://www.westerlynews.ca/local-news/tofitians-seeking-funds-to-return-weeping-cedar-woman-to-tofino-1.800665 |archive-date=19 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The 18 foot tall protest piece stayed on Strawberry Island for 17 years and is currently in Tofino, British Columbia.<ref>{{cite web|last=Morrow|first=Shayne|title=Two major artworks continue to inspire, 30 years after Meares Island Protest|date=25 April 2014|url=http://www.hashilthsa.com/news/2014-04-25/two-major-artworks-continue-inspire-30-years-after-meares-island-protest|publisher=Ha-Shilth-Sa|accessdate=25 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150334/http://www.hashilthsa.com/news/2014-04-25/two-major-artworks-continue-inspire-30-years-after-meares-island-protest|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Godfrey has produced a large body of work including paintings, sculptures and sailing vessels.<ref name="Gurdeep"/> Godfrey is the older brother of [Nature's Path](/source/Nature's_Path) Foods founder [Arran Stephens](/source/Arran_Stephens).

== Books and media ==

Godfrey and his art have appeared in several books,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rubin|first1=Daniel Stone|title=Salt on the Wind|date=22 May 2002|publisher=Fitzhenry & Whiteside|location=Markham, Ontario|isbn=092066346X}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Struthers|first=Andrew|title=The Last Voyage of the Loch Ryan|date=August 2004|publisher=New Star Books|location=Vancouver|isbn=1-55420-008-3|pages=65–66,105,114,160,170,183–184}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Mason|first=Adrienne|title=Long Beach Wild|date=2012|publisher=Greystone Books|location=Vancouver, Canada|isbn=978-1-55365-344-8|pages=158, 160, 181}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kahn|first=LLoyd|title=Home Work Handbuilt Shelter|date=2004|publisher=Shelter Publications|location=California|isbn=978-0-936070-33-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/homeworkhandbuil00kahn/page/232 232]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/homeworkhandbuil00kahn/page/232}}</ref><ref name="Kahn"/><ref name="Kahn 2008 100–109"/><ref name="Gurdeep">{{cite book|last=Stephens|first=Gurdeep|title=Wood Storms, Wild Canvas: The Art of Godfrey Stephens|date=2014|publisher=D & I Enterprises|location=Victoria|isbn=978-0-9938521-0-7}}</ref> magazines,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,836148,00.html |title=West Germany: Die Gammler|work=[Time](/source/Time_(magazine))|date=5 August 1966}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Princess Anne answers Tony Frost's questions in her room|newspaper=Royalty Monthly|date=1987}}</ref><ref>''Western Living Magazine'', April 2008 p 43</ref> newspapers,<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Erith|title=Massive Columns Grace Newspaper Lobby|newspaper=Times Colonist|date=22 February 1973}}</ref><ref name="Amos"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Chadwick|first=Vivienne|title=He Travels Far, Light Sculptor seeks studio|newspaper=Victoria Daily|date=1971}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dedyna|first=Katherine|title=Victoria artist inspired author|newspaper=Times Colonist|date=22 November 2008|pages=E1–E2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fitzpatrick|first1=Donna|title=Arts Festival '77|newspaper=The Westcoaster|date= 9 February 1977|last2=Hood|first2=Phil|page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Amos|first=Robert |date=6 February 2007 |url=http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=4ad97093-79cd-4cb4-9da9-8677a63c9b5a&sponsor= |title=Artist recalls colourful past |work=Times Colonist |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140615103329/http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=4ad97093-79cd-4cb4-9da9-8677a63c9b5a&sponsor=#selection-155.28-159.16 |archive-date=15 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Haiker|first=Bill|title=[Victoria Times](/source/Victoria_Times)|date= 10 February 1973}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Carving Weather|newspaper=Sooke News Mirror|date= 26 April 1995|page=3}}</ref> and blogs.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bailey|first=Andrew|title=Tofitians seeking funds to return Weeping Cedar Woman to Tofino|url=http://www.westerlynews.ca/local-news/tofitians-seeking-funds-to-return-weeping-cedar-woman-to-tofino-1.800665|publisher=Westerly News|accessdate=24 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306063406/http://www.westerlynews.ca/local-news/tofitians-seeking-funds-to-return-weeping-cedar-woman-to-tofino-1.800665|archive-date=6 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kahn|first=Lloyd|title=Godfrey Stephens' New 12' Pelican Sailboat|date=21 April 2012|url=http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.ca/2012/04/godfrey-stephens-new-12-pelican.html|access-date=24 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714233148/http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.ca/2012/04/godfrey-stephens-new-12-pelican.html|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> [Lloyd Kahn](/source/Lloyd_Kahn) credits Godfrey as the inspiration for his popular book ''Builders of the Pacific Coast'' by Shelter Publications.<ref>page Lloyd Kahn's book Builders of the Pacific Coast, introduction</ref> The book ''Wood Storms, Wild Canvas: The Art of Godfrey Stephens'' by Gurdeep Stephens focuses exclusively on highlights of Godfrey's art, with photos of over 100 carvings, paintings and sailing vessels.<ref name="Gurdeep"/> ''Wood Storms, Wild Canvas'' won a Gold Medal for regional non-fiction in the 2015 19th Annual Independent Publisher Book Awards also known as the [IPPY Awards](/source/Independent_Publisher_Book_Awards).<ref>{{cite web|title=2015 Independent Publisher Book Awards Regional & Ebook Results|url=http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1937|website=Independent Publisher|publisher=Jenkins Group|accessdate=27 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627025344/http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1937|archive-date=27 June 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* {{official|https://www.godfreysart.com/}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Godfrey}}
Category:1939 births
Category:Living people
Category:Canadian male sculptors
Category:20th-century Canadian painters
Category:Canadian male painters
Category:Artists from British Columbia
Category:People from Duncan, British Columbia
Category:20th-century Canadian sculptors
Category:20th-century Canadian male artists

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Godfrey Stephens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfrey_Stephens) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfrey_Stephens?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.