Tom Benner (1950 - 2022)
Tom Benner (left) in his studio with his brother Ron Benner in front of Tom's recent sculpture, "Polar Bear," 2019 (in progress in Tom’s studio). Photo Credit Tariq Hassan Gordon, January 2019.
With great sadness, we share the news of the passing of Canadian artist Tom Benner, who died at home in London, Ontario, on Sept. 21, 2022, at age 72.
Tom is well-known in London for his iconic, White Rhino, from 1985-1986, a metal sculpture installed on the grounds of Museum London. His work often signalled the tension between humans, non-humans and the environment. While using a range of materials and processes, he presciently created large-scale sculptures of endangered species that engaged with a broad public and raised awareness of the climate crisis we presently face. It is no exaggeration that Tom Benner's White Rhino is this city's most beloved public artwork.
In 1990, Tom Benner presented a solo exhibition at the ECH. The exhibition was a series of works titled "The Coves" and was organized by Doug Mitchell. Among other works in the collection of Museum London is the powerful Hanging Fin (Whale) sculpture from 1983.
In honour of Tom, Embassy Cultural House co-founder and artist Ron Benner (brother of Tom Benner) has placed a black armband on the White Rhino to commemorate Tom's passing.
Tom's contribution to art and culture in Canada is well-recognized, and his work is included in numerous public collections across the country. Tom had a long history that dates back to his early years after graduating from H B Beal Secondary School's Art Program in London, Ontario when he set up his first studio in 1969.
ECH joins with many individuals and institutions to commemorate Tom and to celebrate his life and work and the many important connections he made within our communities in Canada and internationally.
In memory of Tom, the Embassy Cultural House has made a donation to the recently inaugurated New School of the Anthropocene based in London, UK.
For recent news on the passing of Tom, please visit this article.
CBC: Canadian artist Tom Benner, known for eye-catching animal sculptures, dead at 72
For more information on Tom's work, please visit his website here.
With love and solidarity,
The ECH Team
Tom is well-known in London for his iconic, White Rhino, from 1985-1986, a metal sculpture installed on the grounds of Museum London. His work often signalled the tension between humans, non-humans and the environment. While using a range of materials and processes, he presciently created large-scale sculptures of endangered species that engaged with a broad public and raised awareness of the climate crisis we presently face. It is no exaggeration that Tom Benner's White Rhino is this city's most beloved public artwork.
In 1990, Tom Benner presented a solo exhibition at the ECH. The exhibition was a series of works titled "The Coves" and was organized by Doug Mitchell. Among other works in the collection of Museum London is the powerful Hanging Fin (Whale) sculpture from 1983.
In honour of Tom, Embassy Cultural House co-founder and artist Ron Benner (brother of Tom Benner) has placed a black armband on the White Rhino to commemorate Tom's passing.
Tom's contribution to art and culture in Canada is well-recognized, and his work is included in numerous public collections across the country. Tom had a long history that dates back to his early years after graduating from H B Beal Secondary School's Art Program in London, Ontario when he set up his first studio in 1969.
ECH joins with many individuals and institutions to commemorate Tom and to celebrate his life and work and the many important connections he made within our communities in Canada and internationally.
In memory of Tom, the Embassy Cultural House has made a donation to the recently inaugurated New School of the Anthropocene based in London, UK.
For recent news on the passing of Tom, please visit this article.
CBC: Canadian artist Tom Benner, known for eye-catching animal sculptures, dead at 72
For more information on Tom's work, please visit his website here.
With love and solidarity,
The ECH Team
Tom Benner's "White Rhino" (1986) sculpture with a black armband in honour of his passing. Photo Credit: Jamelie Hassan on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
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Cover from WordsFest Zine, 2016. Image Credit: Diana Tamblyn
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Tributes to Tom Benner
It is hard to encapsulate, in mere paragraphs, a person who was, in many ways, larger than life. It is equally hard to differentiate the artist and the father; to me, he was both. And, in myriad ways, I was lucky on both counts.
Tom Benner was acutely aware of human fallibility in himself, others, and humanity at large. Conversely, he was awed and inspired by the humbling beauty and meaning found in nature and people alike. A philosophical underpinning of my father’s art and approach to life is expressed in the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi. If you were to speak with Dad about it, he might summarize it as the beautiful perfection of imperfection. As in the Japanese print tradition, Dad would include a red wabi-sabi symbol at the bottom right-hand corner of his prints.
As a father, Dad encouraged a progressive way of life. He taught me that a man can find strength in shedding machismo. He bucked the restraints of gender roles. He took joy in wearing pink, with a devil-may-care attitude to anyone who might think it queer, for queerness was cool with him too. He read history that was not taught through colonially slanted school curriculums and passed on what he discovered. He saw that inequality and oppression were a blight on the North American landscape. Sensitivity and caring for nature and our fellow humans were paramount tenets of how a good life was lived. Paying honour to the sacred qualities of nature, the dignity of animals and the beauty in people.
Dad saw the value of obscured beauty in old homes, renewing a handful throughout my childhood. While he uncovered gleaming, hardwood floors from under old, shabby carpeting and made sensible yet stylish adjustments to a house, he would fill it with beautiful, soulful music and delicious food, helping to fill hearts and stomachs and make the house a home.
Dad shared his enthusiasm for animals, campfires, stars, deserts, forests, and waters outside the home. Dad modelled curiosity and a spirit of exploration and had a love of books and the sparks of discovery that could be found on their pages. The word “epic” is overused these days; Tom Benner was an *epic* storyteller. He imbued the home and the outside world with magic and beauty, whether in our beloved Coves or the deserts of the American southwest. (I learned the word “sacred” when we visited Monument Valley in Arizona).
Dad encouraged me to explore my surroundings. For several years, I spent endless numbered days playing in The Coves. We hiked in Arizona, and New Mexico, embraced a shoeless summer on Pelee Island and drove with my dad and our favourite bison from Vancouver to London. My dad taught me drawing and watercolour techniques that have informed my approach to painting and are an indelible gift that I will cherish for the rest of my days.
We didn’t share a religion, but we shared in this rich, imperfect tapestry of life, teeming with beauty and meaning, which I can only begin to summarize. I often think of my Dad when listening to Van Morrison or Bob Marley, two of his and my favourite imperfect, beautiful musicians. If you have a moment, listen to “Tir Na Nog” the song is a lyrical and musical masterpiece about human connection, the fleeting nature of life, and the idea of reuniting with someone in reincarnation. This is an anecdote about an experience I feel so fortunate to have shared with my Dad, and we spoke about it on the morning of the day he passed away:
I’ve been listening to Van Morrison yesterday and today. For the past several years, I've gone back to his album "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher," specifically to hear "In the Garden," followed by "Tir Na Nog." Well, I looked up the setlist from the show we went to in '86, and, apparently, Van opened with those songs back-to-back. Those songs just resonate inside me, but “Tir Na Nog,” specifically, makes me think of you, Dad. It’s one of my favourite songs, let alone Van's songs. The lyrics are beautiful and centred on human connection and the afterlife. In this song and many others, I will reunite with Dad for the rest of my time on Earth. Much love. XOXO
Tom Benner will be missed by family, friends, and the Canadian art community. He strived to be a source of good; he loved deeply and was a committed, passionate artist who loved his community. He tilted at windmills, and he often won.
Please, plant a tree in his honour, give flowers to a friend or a family member, and have a kind word for strangers - he always liked greeting strangers in a familiar way.
Traven Benner
September 24, 2022
(posted with permission)
Tom Benner was acutely aware of human fallibility in himself, others, and humanity at large. Conversely, he was awed and inspired by the humbling beauty and meaning found in nature and people alike. A philosophical underpinning of my father’s art and approach to life is expressed in the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi. If you were to speak with Dad about it, he might summarize it as the beautiful perfection of imperfection. As in the Japanese print tradition, Dad would include a red wabi-sabi symbol at the bottom right-hand corner of his prints.
As a father, Dad encouraged a progressive way of life. He taught me that a man can find strength in shedding machismo. He bucked the restraints of gender roles. He took joy in wearing pink, with a devil-may-care attitude to anyone who might think it queer, for queerness was cool with him too. He read history that was not taught through colonially slanted school curriculums and passed on what he discovered. He saw that inequality and oppression were a blight on the North American landscape. Sensitivity and caring for nature and our fellow humans were paramount tenets of how a good life was lived. Paying honour to the sacred qualities of nature, the dignity of animals and the beauty in people.
Dad saw the value of obscured beauty in old homes, renewing a handful throughout my childhood. While he uncovered gleaming, hardwood floors from under old, shabby carpeting and made sensible yet stylish adjustments to a house, he would fill it with beautiful, soulful music and delicious food, helping to fill hearts and stomachs and make the house a home.
Dad shared his enthusiasm for animals, campfires, stars, deserts, forests, and waters outside the home. Dad modelled curiosity and a spirit of exploration and had a love of books and the sparks of discovery that could be found on their pages. The word “epic” is overused these days; Tom Benner was an *epic* storyteller. He imbued the home and the outside world with magic and beauty, whether in our beloved Coves or the deserts of the American southwest. (I learned the word “sacred” when we visited Monument Valley in Arizona).
Dad encouraged me to explore my surroundings. For several years, I spent endless numbered days playing in The Coves. We hiked in Arizona, and New Mexico, embraced a shoeless summer on Pelee Island and drove with my dad and our favourite bison from Vancouver to London. My dad taught me drawing and watercolour techniques that have informed my approach to painting and are an indelible gift that I will cherish for the rest of my days.
We didn’t share a religion, but we shared in this rich, imperfect tapestry of life, teeming with beauty and meaning, which I can only begin to summarize. I often think of my Dad when listening to Van Morrison or Bob Marley, two of his and my favourite imperfect, beautiful musicians. If you have a moment, listen to “Tir Na Nog” the song is a lyrical and musical masterpiece about human connection, the fleeting nature of life, and the idea of reuniting with someone in reincarnation. This is an anecdote about an experience I feel so fortunate to have shared with my Dad, and we spoke about it on the morning of the day he passed away:
I’ve been listening to Van Morrison yesterday and today. For the past several years, I've gone back to his album "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher," specifically to hear "In the Garden," followed by "Tir Na Nog." Well, I looked up the setlist from the show we went to in '86, and, apparently, Van opened with those songs back-to-back. Those songs just resonate inside me, but “Tir Na Nog,” specifically, makes me think of you, Dad. It’s one of my favourite songs, let alone Van's songs. The lyrics are beautiful and centred on human connection and the afterlife. In this song and many others, I will reunite with Dad for the rest of my time on Earth. Much love. XOXO
Tom Benner will be missed by family, friends, and the Canadian art community. He strived to be a source of good; he loved deeply and was a committed, passionate artist who loved his community. He tilted at windmills, and he often won.
Please, plant a tree in his honour, give flowers to a friend or a family member, and have a kind word for strangers - he always liked greeting strangers in a familiar way.
Traven Benner
September 24, 2022
(posted with permission)
Dear Ron,
I hope you are well given the circumstances. I'm writing to express our deepest condolences in learning of Tom's passing.
Tom's work was always there from when I first started studying with Bob McKaskell and he brought Tom in to talk about his work to the class, to helping Tom install his exhibition in Sault Ste. Marie in the '90s, to working in and around his work during my time at Museum London and at Western. Tom's engagement with and commentary on the natural world was alway poignant. After the last northern white rhino died, I immediately thought of Tom's work and how his sculpture was a warning and premature memorial for this now functionally extinct species. Because of these qualities combined with his always present sense of humour, Tom's work has made a lasting impression in London and the rest of the country.
Wishing you and Jamelie all the best.
Paul and Christine Walde
(posted with permission)
I hope you are well given the circumstances. I'm writing to express our deepest condolences in learning of Tom's passing.
Tom's work was always there from when I first started studying with Bob McKaskell and he brought Tom in to talk about his work to the class, to helping Tom install his exhibition in Sault Ste. Marie in the '90s, to working in and around his work during my time at Museum London and at Western. Tom's engagement with and commentary on the natural world was alway poignant. After the last northern white rhino died, I immediately thought of Tom's work and how his sculpture was a warning and premature memorial for this now functionally extinct species. Because of these qualities combined with his always present sense of humour, Tom's work has made a lasting impression in London and the rest of the country.
Wishing you and Jamelie all the best.
Paul and Christine Walde
(posted with permission)
Hello Ron,
Our art world just seems to keep getting smaller. Tom Benner passed away last week and due to Covid I hadn’t seen him for the last few years. Tom was one of those incredibly generous people who made life so much better. Over twenty years ago, I met Tom on a mystery art tour in his studio. I asked if I could frame his art for him and he said sure he’d give me a try. This was the start of a wonderful relationship.
15 years ago when our Westland Gallery journey began, I used half of the building as a gallery while my friend Gene had the other half as his antique shop. It was a tired old building at the time, but we were at the start of a new beginning for her. Tom agreed to an exhibition of watercolours to launch our new venture. Tom’s work was showing in major galleries and museums across the country at the time and while he could have shown in any gallery he wanted, he let me show his work just to help us out. It was fabulous, and thanks to Tom’s generosity a lot of people were introduced to Westland.
I loved stopping by his studio, visiting with Tom and Dennis, and watching the next creation unfold. I liked hearing the art stories and I really liked watching the interaction between Tom and Dennis. Dennis was Tom’s brother-in-law/studio boss/best friend and the relationship was based on love. I always left with a smile on my face.
Tom was truly a beautiful person and the world will be a little sadder without him in it.
Respectfully,
Al Stewart and Westland Gallery
September 29, 2022
(posted with permission)
Our art world just seems to keep getting smaller. Tom Benner passed away last week and due to Covid I hadn’t seen him for the last few years. Tom was one of those incredibly generous people who made life so much better. Over twenty years ago, I met Tom on a mystery art tour in his studio. I asked if I could frame his art for him and he said sure he’d give me a try. This was the start of a wonderful relationship.
15 years ago when our Westland Gallery journey began, I used half of the building as a gallery while my friend Gene had the other half as his antique shop. It was a tired old building at the time, but we were at the start of a new beginning for her. Tom agreed to an exhibition of watercolours to launch our new venture. Tom’s work was showing in major galleries and museums across the country at the time and while he could have shown in any gallery he wanted, he let me show his work just to help us out. It was fabulous, and thanks to Tom’s generosity a lot of people were introduced to Westland.
I loved stopping by his studio, visiting with Tom and Dennis, and watching the next creation unfold. I liked hearing the art stories and I really liked watching the interaction between Tom and Dennis. Dennis was Tom’s brother-in-law/studio boss/best friend and the relationship was based on love. I always left with a smile on my face.
Tom was truly a beautiful person and the world will be a little sadder without him in it.
Respectfully,
Al Stewart and Westland Gallery
September 29, 2022
(posted with permission)
Banner Image: "White Rhino", 1985, Sheet metal sculpture. Photo Credit: Tariq Hassan Gordon
