Award-winning art sculptor Denis Bolohan has a long history of creating unique (and sometimes unusual) forms of art in communities like Innisfil and Bradford West Gwillimbury, and lately, he's been playing with fire and snow and incorporating them into his creations.
Bolohan is well known in the arts community; he is a long-standing member of the South Simcoe Arts Council and the founder of the Fahrenheit Festival of Fire Sculpting. Over the years, surrounding communities have benefited from Bolohan’s large, commissioned projects at festivals and events. Some of his more well-known works of art are his giant Labyrinths carved out of grass in fields like the one located behind the Cookstown Library.
Originally from Chatham, Ontario, Bolohan and his wife have resided in the Cookstown area for more than 15 years. The couple loves the quiet and quaint communities off County Road 27 and has appreciated getting to know the locals from Innisfil, Alcona, and Cookstown through many of the events Bolohan has participated in.
Bolohan has two degrees, a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Waterloo University and a Master of Fine Arts from Eastern Michigan University. Back in the 80s, Bolohan began fostering his artistic genes working as an ‘installation artist’. Art galleries would hire him to create abstract themed rooms using mirrors and lights, forming geometric shapes that would reflect images called ‘infinity rooms'.
Bolohan’s artwork has also appeared in various artisan shows, working with stone, wood, and other recycled materials. He also draws portraits, pets, and homes out of pencil or carved stone.
In the mid-90s, a fellow Waterloo artist and friend encouraged him to attend the Winter Carnival Festival in Quebec one year to compete in the snow sculpting competition. This was Bolohan’s first introduction to snow and ice sculpting and surprisingly, he ended up winning first place for his ‘two seated camels’ snow sculpture. He continued on to the International competition, representing Canada, and created a flock of geese taking off in flight but did not win at that level.
“It was quite an experience!” remembers Bolohan, whose brother Ken also went and helped him at the event. “We had no idea what we were doing but went for it.”
Bolohan was intrigued by the idea of carving his artistic creations out of snow and began entering snow sculpting competitions all over Ontario, and even travelled as far as Russia and Moscow to compete.
“It was really mild that year and quite the gust of winds,” notes Bolohan about his trip to Moscow. “We created a ‘man in the moon’ snow sculpture [but] the weather was playing havoc on us… a gust of wind came and picked our piece up right off the ground and smashed it to pieces, there was nothing left!”
Bolohan and his team had three days to come up with a different idea to complete the snow project before the competition ended. With the remaining blocks of snow, they made an ‘Inukshuk’ and although they were not successful in winning, they did receive an award for ‘bravery’.
In 2001, Bolohan had the opportunity to travel to France where he was introduced to a new form of sculpting… using fire. Tall constructs made of wood are lined with straw and later lit on fire to show off an amazing light show display.
“Fire sculpting is knowing how the fire will burn and move,” explains Bolohan. “When you wrap the straw around wood loosely, it will burn quick and it's gone… wrap it tightly and there’s more ‘fuel’ to burn, making the ‘show’ last longer.”
Bolohan hosted his first ‘burn’ session on his property with approximately 100 spectators before introducing the idea to the town of Windsor which formed the ‘Fahrenheit Festival of Fire Sculpture’. Bolohan has created annual pieces for the festival where there have been between 2,000-3,000 spectators in attendance (along with the fire department!)
“Depending on how you wrap the straw into the wood, you can make the fire ‘do things’,” notes Bolohan. “Structures take months to complete and typically only burn for 10-20 minutes – it’s quite the big light show! Some structures are 16-20 feet tall.”
Bolohan competed in many more competitions over the years and was commissioned by local towns to create fire sculptures for different events, including a giant maple leaf that ‘burned’ for the town of Innisfil on Canada Day in 2019.
“Whether it’s snow or fire, the concept must be ideas I can do drawings so I can visually see it first… I just can’t look at a block and do a sculpture… I must have drawings prior to doing the pieces,” explains Bolohan.
Last year, before Covid, Bolohan was commissioned by the town of Innisfil to complete two different projects to commemorate the town's 200th anniversary – a fire sculpture for the fall and a labyrinth (field maze) for the spring. However, both projects were postponed due to the ongoing pandemic.
“The labyrinth is re-approved to commence for this year (2021),” shares Bolohan, adding it will be sometime in June and located in the field behind the Cookstown Library. “As an outdoor piece, people can walk one at a time, spaced out.”
Since Covid, Bolohan has taken a break from his sculptures and focuses his time on home renovation projects. He does not plan to continue with many snow sculptures in future as it is “physically demanding” on his body but notes he will continue to do the fire sculptures and other pieces of commissioned art as the need arises.
“The nature of my work, there is nothing tangible after the actual event except for photographs,” expresses Bolohan. “People ask me if I’m upset after my piece melts away or dies off in fire… They exist only for the time they are there and then they are gone, but it’s no different than attending a music concert – you’re there to enjoy and appreciate the moment and then it's’ gone – it’s just another form of art!”
To view a clip of Denis Bolohan’s fire sculpting featured on television, visit: CTV News FAHRENHEIT 2011 Preview spot sept 20.MPG - YouTube
