Ethel Rosenfield facts for kids

Ethel Rosenfield (1910 – 2000) was a talented Canadian sculptor. She was born in Poland and later lived in Montreal, Quebec. Ethel started sculpting when she was in her mid-forties. She mostly used limestone and marble. Her art often showed natural shapes, like faces and female bodies.

Ethel helped start the Quebec Sculptors' Association in 1962. Her amazing sculptures were shown in famous places. These included the Musée Rodin in Paris and Expo 67. Her art is also kept in important collections. You can find her sculptures at Concordia University and the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal.

Early Life and Art Journey

Ethel Rosenfield was born in 1910 in Kodoc, Poland. She moved to Montreal, Canada, in 1919. Later, Ethel had two children, a daughter and a son.

When Ethel turned 45, her children were older. This is when she began studying sculpting. She went to the École des beaux-arts de Montréal. Her husband playfully called her "Montreal's Grandma Moses." This was because she started her art career later in life.

Learning from Masters

Ethel learned from some great Quebec sculptors. Her teachers included Armand Filion, Sylvia Daoust, and Louis Archambault. In 1962, Ethel became a founding member. She helped create the Quebec Sculptors' Association.

Ethel's Sculpting Style

Ethel Rosenfield mainly worked with stone. She used limestone from Indiana. She also used marble from Carrara, Verona, and Quebec. Sometimes, she also worked with wood and bronze.

Her sculptures often focused on "organic forms." These are shapes inspired by nature. Her art could be abstract, meaning not easily recognized. Or it could be "schematized," which means simplified. These often showed faces and female bodies.

Where Her Art Was Shown

Ethel's sculptures were shown in many places. They were displayed at the Musée Rodin in Paris. Her work was also part of group shows. These included Place des Arts and Expo 67. Her art was also seen at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

Helping Other Artists

Ethel Rosenfield also helped younger artists. She offered them advice and support. One artist she helped was Ora Markstein. Ora was a Holocaust survivor from Hungary. She moved to Canada in the 1970s.

Ethel saw photos of Ora's early sculptures. She told Ora, "But you are thinking in stone! You feel in stone!" Ethel encouraged Ora to take stone sculpting classes. She even helped Ora get a scholarship. This was at the Saidye Bronfman Centre.

Later Life and Legacy

Ethel Rosenfield moved to Toronto in 1978. She passed away in 2000. Her death happened in Scarborough, Ontario.

Her sculptures are part of many collections. These include public and private art collections. You can find her work at Concordia University. It is also at the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal. Another place is the Storm King Art Center.