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There are ex-husbands next to ex-wives. Parents next to children. Politicians next to artists. It鈥檚 a who鈥檚 who of Squamish, frozen in time.
鈥淭his is also me,鈥� Thor Forslev says, pointing to a smooth concrete face.
Thirty years ago, the founder of the Brackendale Art Gallery started his wall of faces. The project was initially a fundraiser to build a stage. But it quickly took on a life of its own.
鈥淪ome people just wanted to be up there,鈥� Froslev says as he balances his weight on someone鈥檚 forehead.
Today the faces of 118 people make up the wall. One by one, Thor and his wife Dorte invited people over, plastered their faces and let them sit there for 20 minutes. Once hardened, the moulds were taken to the workshop. There, they were filled with concrete. And now they look out from a wall on the side of the art gallery.听
鈥淭here鈥檚 Paul Watson,鈥澨� Thor says. 鈥淐aptain Paul Watson.鈥�
The founder of the non-profit organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is not the only famous environmentalist whose face is on the wall. A few metres from him is Canada鈥檚 environmental activist sweetheart, David Suzuki. Suzuki stares out a few feet away from two-time Juno award winner, folk singer Paul Valdemar Horsdal, a.k.a. Valdy. Further along is Boston tennis pro Michael Lewitt. And then there鈥檚 Canadian naturalist and painter Robert Bateman.听
鈥淭his is my grandson when he was five years old,鈥� Froslev says. 鈥淭here he is at 21.鈥�
The list of names and stories behind the faces flow from Froslev as he stops in front of each one. There are happy tales, sad endings and continuing sagas. Thor looks at each face as he rattles off the person鈥檚 life journey, as though he鈥檚 visiting with old friends.听
Froslev brought the property the gallery sits on in 1970. The native of Denmark had a vision of what he wanted to build. With no training or previous experience, he picked up a hammer and began.听
鈥淢y grandfather on my father鈥檚 side was a timber-frame builder who built barns. The other grandfather was a blacksmith,鈥� Froslev says. 鈥淚 knew I didn鈥檛 know anything, but I also knew my family had done that.鈥�
For decades, the gallery was a work in progress. Year after year, more components were added, including the wall of faces. It鈥檚 not quite there yet, he jokes.听
鈥淚t takes time and dedication,鈥� Froslev, 81, says as he reaches the end of the wall. 鈥淚 put my time into the building.鈥�
