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World raknowned artist cal/s King home The method has not changed since Michaelangelo. The largest block of marble ever quarried. 17 feet long, 23 feet wide, weighing 400,000 pounds, is painstakingly moved for one of the world’s leading sculptors. But he still had to find a block of marble large enough to do five larger- than-life human figures in “The Quest" and that required an exhaustive search. (Michaelangelo avoided this by finding his block first and then deciding what to do with it.) “I sell imagination,” says Count Alexander von Svoboda. While Michaelangelo was patronized by popes and princes, the scluptor’s work is now commissioned by captains of industry looking for tax breaks. Once the block was found and quarried, and moved it would take a team of skilled craftsmen, each with his own language and belief, two years to complete. “If there was one mistake, one flaw in the marble, my sculpture would have been nothing.” Von Svoboda maintains his home and studio in King and another studio near Florence, Italy. He travels all over the world seeking out materials and ideas to satisfy his clients. That ZOO-ton slab of marble was destined for the head office of the Georgia Pacific Corporation in Por- tland, Oregon. With a scale model fashioned in his King Township studio, von Svoboda had won a competition over Henry Moore and two other scluptors, for a contract in seven figures, the largest com- mission in modern times. In the midst of the work near Athens, the Greek political situation worsened. KING â€" Picture the rugged hills of Greece. Two hundred oxen harnessed together drag a huge block of white marble toward the sea. Henderson had retreat place Mr. Henderson leaves his wife, Dorothy; a daughter, Georgia Parsons; and two sons, Gordon and Alan. KING CITY â€" Douglas Campbell Henderson, 63, whose King City property served in part as a retreat for the public for the past five years, died last week of a blood clot after a cancer operation. Mr. Henderson was assistant con- troller of operational services of the Etobicoke board of education, and was with them for 25 years. He and his wife lived on a 240-acre farm, and at one time stayed in a log cabin on the property, milking cows and growing vegetables. For many years he helped set policies for all Canada while with the national committee of the YMCA. A native of Oshawa, he studied forestry at university, served with the Royal Canadian Navy in World War 11, and was a salesman with York Knitting Co. Théy late} built a modern house on the land and allowed people, singly or in groups, to live in the cabin for short Periods. The idea was to provide a retreat in which people could help fulfill them- selves, as well as contribute to the betterment of mankind. To hear a presentation and to submit comments on the Southeast Industrial Study which encompasses lands between Bayview Avenue any] the future Highway 404 and between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue. C0unci||or M. Graham Chairman Planning Committee MEIROSPAN - NORTH DIVISION Robert Maxwell » General Manager Jean Bake: Pearce ~ Assistanl Geneval Manager Jim Davues - Advemsmg Divecxor Peter Llne - Circulation Director Norman Slunden - Produclion Manager Lalry Johnston » News Edllov, MarkhamVaughan Edmon Tom Gale 7 News Edltor, Richmond Hill Edmon Colin Forsvth A Advertlsmg Supervisov Ross Hodsoll Civculanon Superwsov Lama Woods 7 Accounting Manager Editorial 8 Accounting . . Circulation . . . . . . . . . . . Display Advertising . . . . Classified Advertising . . CLASSIFIED â€" sunos, 331457?" ' ’ ' ' ' cmcuumon â€" aswsex. saxâ€"337s Home delivevy 01 The Liberal is 80 cents every four weeks] by mail $9.90 a year in Canada, $15.00 a year outside of Canada. No local mail delivery wheve cavrier serwce exists TELEPHONE THE LIBERAL DEPARTMENTS DIRECT. The Liberal is published each week by Melrospan Commumly Newspapers Limited, Thrs newspaper IS a member 04 the Canadian Community Newspaper Association and the Audi! Buveau ot Circulation. ‘ I a I TOWN OF - RICHMOND HILL PUBLIC MEETING By Larry Johnston Briggs Avenue Wednesday April 27th. 1977 in 16th Avenue Public School A public meeting will be held at 8:00 pm. on Elinif-Tiitrml The contems, both editorial and advenisung of Richmond Hill, are protected by copynght and am} use is prohibited‘ 10101 Yong. Sum. no. box 390.1.4c «vs; Ontario WHONE â€" ausm. 881-3373 0F STUDY :17 12â€"day ig. Second Class Mail Registration No. 0190 16th Avenue VOLUME 99, NUMBER 42 MA {FA’HA M DOL L/M’ 884-81 77 884-0981 884-81 77 884-1 105 Fearing he could not carry on, von Svoboda rented a freighter and moved the statue across the Adriatic. There was more trouble when it reached the United States by ship. The sculptor checked the crane and found the cables were not strong enough. Before they were strengthened, the docks were shut down by a longshoreman’s strike. Two helicopters couldn’t lift the statue. Von Svoboda is one of the few artists acknowledged to be able to use mosaic on a large scale, and is acknowledged worldwide as a designer of churches, including the interior and art work of the Sacred Heart Church in King city. Finally through negotiations, using lawyers, von Svoboda got special permission to take the statue off the éhip Von Svoboda's other major works include “perpetuity” for Georgia- Pacific, made from the circumference of a giant redwood tree and bronze, and the British Columbia Centennial fountain, depicting the province’s ragged coast with granite, black marble and mosaic. To do all this, von Svoboda has had to become more than an artist. He is the soul of a corporation, Svoboda International Designs Ltd. “There is a story in every work,” said von Svoboda. There was the man who came straight to his door from the airport and asked von Svoboda in very broken English to do a job for him. He turned out to be a priest from the Barbadoes asking him to build and design a church. The artist flew to the Barbadoes and took on the work. There was the executive who flew him to San Francisco in a private jet to discuss the design for a $3.5 million house. Von Svoboda came back weeks later with the design. The executive said the design was what he wanted and left Von Svobada to do the rest. “I am not an architect. I hire an architect." His designs are conceived in his studio here. They are shaped into reality in Florence where up to 30 craftsmen may be working at one time. He always finishes his art work him- self. He looks like a businessman. Clean-shaven. with his hair respectany short, wearing gold rim- med glasses, any banker would be proud of von Svoboda. Dealing with the people he does, he said, you can’t dress like a hippy. At a press conference last week, except for the mandatory artist’s cravat, he dressed like any King executive would on his way to the country club. His life was not always so easy. Born in Vienna in 1930, his family was wiped out financially in wartime upheavals. He was left with nothing to inherit but the title. “I was a refugee, a DP, he said, dredging up a term most people have forgotten. With his studies in art schools in Vienna, Paris and Rome behind him, he emigrated to the promised land of Canada in 1950 and found it was anything but. “I took odd jobs, collected garbage.” He said once he went three weeks without a meal. He finally got ‘75 cents and went into the local greasy spoon (it was in the Ronscevalles-Queen area of Toronto.) He ordered the most filling thing on the menu, for 75 cents, spaghetti. isung of The Liberal, and any” unauthorized Thornhill 8 Toronto Customers Call 881 -3373 For all Depts. W.J. Power Director of Planning He realized too late he covered it with hot pepper seeds. It tasted terrible but he ate the whole thing, tears streaming down his face. For 10 years, von Svoboda would work until 3 am. and get up at 6 am. Artists can’t just work when the spirit moves them, any more than heart surgeons can, he said. AB artist is é craftsman first and first he must learn the craft and work at it. All von Svoboda’s work is com- missioned except for the paintings he has done of his impressions of people and places around the world, a Chinese girl, a Hawaaian beach, an Arizona desert. He found it amusing, he had to admit, when the girl from the local art gallery at Snowball Corners called him. She had heard he did some paintings too, and was wondering if he would like to show them in her gallery. Would he World famous sculptor and designer Alex von Svoboda also paints. He is sharing “Suzy Wong" and about 40 other water START SAVING NOW WITH OUR LOWER SPRING PRICES AND OUR OWN FINANCING PLAN “No extra charge - No interest financing" Now offers our own “No Fuss” financing to suit your needs - up to 10 months equal billing available to homeowners â€" this is a “Limited Time” offer on our efficient blown insulation method. Don't Delay - Call Now - 884-0385 AVAILABLE ONLY M ALLENCOUR Bayview & Markham Rd., Richmond Hill WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES. Alex van Svoboda CHICKEN, LIVER DR BEEF ATTIC INSULATION PEP DOG FOOD WAX BEANS SALAD DRESSING IGA GREEN 0R IGA APPLE JUICE DECAFFEINATED BRIM COFFEE DELMONTE STEWED TOMATOES IGA UPPER CANADA INSULATION LIMITED Somehow he has had time to develop a hobby, raising quarter horses and he has been a judge at the leading in- ternational quarter horse show. drop in for a visit? He might. She was persistent and the meeting was arranged for three days later. She finally sold him on the idea of sharing his art with his neighbors in his beloved King Township. Tfie show ét Mary Gilbert’s York Fine Art Gallery, featuring 40 of von Svoboda’s paintings opens Thursday. Von Svoboda could choose to raise his family anywhere, but he has been living near Schomberg for 16 years, where he is a director of the local fair, and the historical society, and his four children attend local schools. Alex." But what he likes about King is the “hominess. To my neighbors, I am just 14 OZ TIN colors of people and places around the world with his neigh- bors in a show at the York Fine Art Gallery opening Thursday. 2 OZ. JAR 25 OZ TIN 32 OZ JAR 48 OZ TIN 14 OZ TIN 98¢) WANT TU CRUSH SMUKING HABIT? THE 5-DAY PLAN TO STOP SMOKING far easier than you Ihoughl posszb/e.‘ PRESENTING . . . ' due 10 popular were” 0M z“ (Blue Flame Room) 500 Elgin Mills Rd. E. RICHMOND HILL 7:30 PM. RICHVALE Community Centre (Carrville Room) Avenue Road and Consumers' GAS BUILDING April 25 to 29 PHONE 8843148 BBMMSI HORSE FENCES INDESTRUCTIBLE INEXPENSIVE CALL US FOR INFORMATION ALPHA $333? FENCING Call collect 6751220 ukyf‘lm Photo by Joh nst0n A NEW CONCEPT IN For free tickets or Information WHO ARE YOU? WHERE ARE YOU GOING? WHAT DOES CHRISTIANITY MEAN TO YOU? Come and Search! Theme: “If you love me, obey For Registration call UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO MAY 13,14,15 The Council of the Town of Richmond Hill has declared that DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME shall be observed in Richmond Hill commencing at 2:00 o'clock am. on Sunday, April 24, 1977. Residents are requested to move their clocks ahead one hour at that time. H. David Schiller, Mayor WOMEN ALIVE WEEKEND CONFERENCE NOTICE RE: Daylight Saving Time Where the people are friendly ...the atmosphere comfortable and relaxed. and Enjoy the sounds of entertainer PAUL MchECE AT THE ORGAN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY EVENINGS T 3/0 STEAK Hal/SE ,a. COME TOGETHER AT THE 55 Yonge St. 8., Aurora 727-4073 CHARGEX, DINER'S CLUB AMERICAN EXPRESSl MASTER CHARGE PLENTY OF FREE PARKING 'TRY OUR SEAFOOD MENU' AND TAVERN 889-2872 (after 4 pm.) TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL (John 14:15)