John Molnar
August 7, 1960 – October 13, 2010

On Wednesday, October 13, 2010 my beloved John
slipped away from us due to complications of leukemia.

John was an incomparable artist and a mentor to so many,
but he’s left us a legacy of art that will keep his memory
and spirit alive forever. He will always be remembered
for his incredible intellect, wicked sense of humor and repertoire
of accents, and for his love of nature, compassion and the
spirituality that is reflected in all his paintings.

You were loved by so many. Many more
than you’ll ever know. Your spirit and love is in my
heart always, and I’ll miss you everyday of my life.

Your loving wife,
Cathy

John’s 2009 Nuit Blanche Sculpture

Last fall, John participated in InSanity, Nuit Blanche 2009,
which was based on Geoffrey Reaume’s book, Remembrance
of Patients Past – the first study of its kind to remember the lives
of psychiatric patients at the Toronto Hospital for the Insane
(now CAMH) from 1870-1940.

Six artists from Workman Arts chose six former patients
depicted in Mr. Reaume’s book, with the goal of creating figurative sculptures that would tell the stories of individual patients who
had mostly been confined to a history of silence.
John chose Winston O.

Winston O by John Molnar

…he wanted to fly, but they wouldn’t let him

Winston O was a cooper (barrel maker). He had
depression and spent the last 58 years of his life in the
Toronto Hospital for the Insane.

Like most patients, Winston was forced to work
with no pay. Yet, he somehow managed to build violins
from scrap wood so he could entertain his dormitory friends.
He constructed a hand-propelled automobile which he was
permitted to drive around the hospital grounds, but not
outside the walls. He also built some kind of full-scale,
working aircraft, but was never allowed to fly it.

In the spirit of Winston O, and as homage to his
inventiveness and strength, my tribute to this
‘mad’ engineering genius is also made
with found wood and other materials.

My sculpture is a metaphoric compilation that
incorporates a 4' x 2' symbolic wooden car chassis as a
base to support an effigy of Winston. The effigy is attached
to a confining cage, which I mirrored in his black lab coat.
The wings, which extend from his coat, are cantilevered
with aviation wire and extend down into the confining cage,
paradoxically representing both freedom and bondage.

Rick Hyslop generously donated the hundred-year-old
violin and composed and performed the haunting score
especially for this piece of art. To me, the violin and music
are indicative of Winston’s humanity and spirit, and embody
a voice that can be heard for posterity.

Like Winston O, I pushed myself beyond my boundaries
on my first sculptural piece for a major art event.
As I solved problems, I sensed Winston’s presence, helping
me work things out. I felt a connection with him, not as an
historicalfigure, but as a living, breathing man
who was empowered by his dreams of mobility and freedom,
but who could never overcome his physical confinement.

Click here to see a video about the construction of
John's sculpture of Winston O

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVZXSnE3L9s

 

My Friends, Today's Great Masters

“When people think of the Great Masters of art, they often
think first of the artists of the Italian Renaissance,
the Impressionists or the Hudson River School.
The works of these past masters of art are so memorable
that the great artists of the present day rarely come to mind.

Selected from among the numerous artists Jack Richeson
has come to know through many years working in the
art materials industry, these artists represent some
of the greats in the present-day world of art.
While the work of some of these artists may be familiar,
a number of less-known great masters are
also honored in these pages.

The variety of mediums, styles and subjects in this book
illustrates the range of possibilities in today’s art world,
and the mastery of these painters will inspire collectors,
artists and art students everywhere.”

-Introduction to My Friends, Today’s Great Masters

My Friends, Today’s Great Masters features 30 artists
including John and is available in Canada through
John’s website for $49. 95 + shipping and handling.