The Stone Hunter
Robert Proulx, Architectural Feature Artist
Artistic works forged by nature and revealed by hand
Robert is known as the “Stone Hunter” as that
is exactly what he does. He searches the rivers and shorelines
of BC for uniquely formed stone and wood. In addition, he
reclaims steel and glass from a variety of sources—renovations,
demolitions, scrap yards, etc. Robert then shapes and arranges
these materials into functional and appealing works of sculpture,
unusual architectural art, and hand-made furniture.
Stonework
has been the baseline of Robert’s artistic productions
for almost three decades. Robert’s eclectic talent
utilizes carpentry, carving, welding and building skills.
A self-employed artisan for over thirty years, Robert has
spent 16 of these working on high-end homes in Whistler,
BC. His work there varied from creating fireplaces, unique
floors, interesting exteriors, waterfalls and pillars.
Robert has been privileged to work on great projects with
extraordinary architects and talented builders. He deeply
appreciates these rare opportunities to have learned from
the best.
Contributing to the protection of the environment and to
the development of arts skills in children are important
interests of Robert’s. As an expression of this, he
constructed an arts building for children in Pemberton,
BC using beams from the old Burrard Drydock in North Vancouver.
This structure included a large gallery and a mini-theatre.
These amazingly huge beams, some over one hundred feet long,
have also been incorporated into pieces of Robert’s
hand made furniture and other woodwork.
Robert is very proud of his work and receives a great sense
of purpose and accomplishment from his artistic creations.
His main goal is to make a difference both environmentally
and spiritually. In this respect it is significant that
he utilizes materials collected from the natural environment
and that people are so strongly affected by his pieces.
Robert resides in beautiful Courtenay, BC. He is delighted
that his young daughter has been influenced by him. She
has acquired many of the technical skills he uses and is
now making her own artistic creations.
