Ian D. L. TROWELL

IAN D. L. TROWELL May, 1930 - March 2021 With breaking hearts, we announce the passing of Ian Trowell, aged 90, on Thursday, March 11, 2021. He departed this life in his London, Ontario home, surrounded by family. Sculptor, poet and essayist, he was knowledgeable about all the performing arts, particularly music, but his consuming passions were the visual arts and writing. Born in Hove, Sussex, in war-torn England, he immigrated to Canada, April, 1951 and worked in journalism and corporate public relations in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay), Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. By 1966, he was sculpting part-time and his first solo exhibition was held at the Pollock Gallery in Toronto. After three more group exhibitions and a two-person show, he faced the problem of whether he was willing to starve for his art, and chose to do so. His career as full-time artist was launched when he received the top award in the Ontario Society of Artists' 99th Annual Open Juried Exhibition, 1971, for his bronze sculpture Subway at Bloor. That same year, his works were exhibited in a group show at the Merton Gallery, representing him at the time. Since then, his works have been exhibited in 'Sculpture Canada '78', Paris, Brussels, London UK, Toronto, and in numerous shows in Ontario and Prince Edward Island, and are in private and public collections around the world. (Webpage: IanTrowell.com) In 1972, Ian was elected president of the Ontario Society of Artists. In its 100th year, the Society that had grown from the Group of 7 and had given birth to such prestigious progeny as the Canadian Society of Artists, was at a fork in the road. In an effort to ensure the Society's posterity, Ian opened a permanent gallery in Niagara-on-the-Lake and dedicated himself to promoting the works of its members, but the obstacles were enormous. For seven treasured, life-transforming years, Ian and his wife Angela learned from wonderful rural Prince Edward Islanders how to survive on a 90-acre farm. Art and writing assignments kept them afloat. He was exhibiting his art and writing and publishing poetry and essays to the end. Ian will be remembered by far-flung friends and close neighbours as kind and gentle, with a marvelous sense of humour and sardonic wit; a philosopher and mentor; and a fount of wisdom about everything, especially the arts. He leaves his ever-loving soulmate of 48 years, Angela, his daughters, Lisa Trowell and Sue Trowell (Brian), grandchildren, Kristy (Ryan), Jake, Sydney and Davis and great-grandsons Jeremy and Kayden. Sincere thanks to South-West LHIN and many good friends. Memories may be shared on www.affordablefuneraloptions.ca