Bergen Rocks Sculpture Park
About Bergen Rocks
The Bergen Rocks sculpture park is the result of 4 symposia hosted by Morton Burke on his acreage where the park is located. 23 sculptors from around the world have visited Bergen, each for a period of one month. During their time in Bergen, each of them created a monumental sculpture in stone which was then placed in the park.
An important element of the Bergen Rocks program is to have the sculptures moved into public places so from time to time some of the sculptures from the park are relocated. The sculptures shown below are now exhibited in Bergen, others that have been realized in the Bergen Rocks symposium program are exhibited in Olds and in Sylvan Lake.
Directions
- 403-638-1447
- [email protected]
-
Site 10, Comp 24,
RR2 Sundre, Alberta T0M 1X0 - # 20-32164 RR54 Alberta
From A&W Sundre
6.4km south on Hwy 760
Right (west) 1.6km on Twp Rd 322 (Pioneer Lodge Rd)
Left (South) 300m on RR54
Right to #20 (Drive to the back of the property,
1st house is the neighbor)
From Hwy 22 (Cowboy Trail)
West on Bergen Road (Twp rd 320) 9.6km
Right on Hwy 760 3.2km to Twp Rd 322 (Pioneer Lodge Road)
Left (west) 1.6km to RR54
Left (South) 300m to the second driveway on the right
Right to #20 (Drive to the back of the property, 1st house is
the neighbor)
Visit the park
From May to October is the perfect time to visit the Bergen International Sculpture Park. It is open daily on a drop-in basis or you can call ahead to make a reservation for a personal tour with Morton acting as your docent, relaying the artist’s interpretations and maybe providing anecdotes about the artists and the creation process of each piece.
Bring a picnic lunch if you’d like and don’t forget your camera. Social distancing is easy to maintain, the sculptures are placed a comfortable distance from each other. Visiting Bergen Rocks is a perfect thing to do when in Sundre, it’s only 10 mins away.
Groups are welcome. We have hosted car clubs, seniors groups, “Red Hatters” and bus tours.
Virtual Tour
The sculptures realized in the four Bergen Rocks symposia are pictured below. Part of my concept in having the symposia was to eventually have the sculptures moved into public venues. That objective has also been met, 13 sculptures have been relocated to other communities, some permanently and some as temporary exhibits.
"Moods of the Sea"
Vahe Tokmajyan, 2008, Marble, 2008
Vahe comes from a family tradition of artists/sculptors. His father participated in the first international symposium in the 1950s. Sculptures by Vahe, his father and brother can be found in museums and the homes of kings through Europe, the Middle East and around the world. He holds a Masters Degree in Fine art from the Fine Arts State Institute of Art and Theatre, Yerevan, Armenia
Three sea shells represent three moods of the sea: Peace, Tranquility and Turbulence.
"Movement in Space"
Peerapong Duonkaew, Thailand, Sandstone and Granite, 2008
Peerapong is a retired professor of fine art from Chiang Mai University in Thailand. He has participated in many symposia around the globe and is well known for his figurative work. Often animated to some degree, his works are enjoyed by all ages. It is an honor for our community that an artist of such stature would create a sculpture for our area. The sculptures created at Bergen Rocks should have a life span of 2000 years or more if properly cared for, they will remain long after the memory of the event and it’s participants.
Peerapong’s sculpture depicts a man diving through the air with a baby on his back. His objective with this sculpture was to create a feeling of lightness and movement from a heavy material. Well done!!
"The Gates to Heaven, Everyone Can Go"
Chander Parkash, India, Sandstone and Metal, 2009
Chander received his Master of Fine Arts degree from M.S. University in Baroda, India in 2002. He has been very active in the international sculpture community and has works placed in India, Israel, Switzerland, Russia, Kenya, New Zealand, Argentina, Syria and others. He works in many mediums including stone, clay, paper, wood, steel and others.
Chander’s sculpture is a community temple, there are 1000’s of these temples in India. Like our community playgrounds they are found in residential areas. The area around these temples is sacred. Community temples are non-denominational so regardless of your religion you can visit here to pray. That feature makes the title of this sculpture especially significant.
"The Elder"
Paul Patrick Haggins, Ireland, Sandstone, 2009
Paul got his start in sculpture when he saw an ad for an apprentice with a castle restoration company. As he gained experience he had the opportunity to reproduce Celtic images that had deteriorated or been damaged over time. Now, with more than twenty five years of experience he has left the restoration profession far behind. His art works can be found in Asia, North America and Europe.
Paul participated in the Bergen Rocks Symposium program for the second time in 2009 and created a second Celtic cross. I knew that people really enjoy the Celtic cross so thought it would be great if he did another, he’s an expert with the form. One of the objectives of the Bergen Rocks program is to have the sculptures moved into communities where they will be seen and appreciated by more people than they would here at my rural acreage, Paul’s first cross is permanently exhibited at The Highway 27 Sculpture Pathway in Olds.
With this project he wanted to create a cross that looks like it is ancient, like it has been here for a thousand years and it’s beginning to be eroded by wind and weather. On one side he carved a Celtic tri-spiral; Three spirals represent the earth, the moon and the sun. Each one of them emerges from a different tip of a triangle demonstrating that the three bodies are closely tied together.
"Reflection"
Tanja Roeder, Germany, Marble, 2010
After completing several programs in the arts, from 1992 to 1996, Tanja studied for three years with Klaus Weizenegger at the Vocational School of Sculpture in Bischofsheim/ Germany. She then attended the Master School of Sculpture in Munich where she earned the designation of Master Sculptor. Bergen Rocks 2010 was Tanja’s 45 international symposium. She has created monumental sculptures throughout the world. One in New Zealand is 45 feet tall. The torso is a common subject for Tanja, she now has two in Canada, one in St. Jean Port Joli in Quebec and “Reflection” here at Bergen.
"Repression"
Saeid Amadi, Iran, Sandstone, 2010
Saeid holds Master of Fine Art degree from Dharkov Academy of Design and Arts. Since 1999 he has participated in many national and international exhibits and events showing graphic works as well as sculpture. Public and private works around the world include Ukraine, Iran, Poland, Russia, USA, Spain, Korea and others.
"The Ancient One"
Mohamad Reza Yazdi, Iran, Marble, 2010
Mohamad graduated from the University of Tehran with a degree in Fine Arts specializing in sculpture. Mohamad is an arts prodigy, a sculptor, painter, poet, composer and a member of the Association of Iranian Calligraphers. In addition to works placed throughout his home country he also exhibited representing his country at the Sculpture Olympics in Beijing , China 2008.
"Holy Horses"
Amgalan Tsmegvid, Mongolia, Marble, 2011
Amgalan studied, first, at the College of Music and Dance in Ulan-Bator, Mongolia and then continued his studies at The Institute of Architecture, Sculpture and Painting in St. Petersburg, Russia. He worked as Professor of Fine Art at the Fine Art College in Ulan-Bator. His body of work includes pieces in Mongolia, China, USA, Germany, Australia, Japan, Russia and Hungary.
Two horses standing together on a windy day on the steppes of Mongolia. A beautiful sculpture that captures the wind in the blowing manes and tails of the horses. Small birds are flying out of the bushes that the horses are standing amongst.
"Connection"
Min Kyoung Uk, Korea, Marble, 2011
In 2003 Uk earned a Bachelor Degree from Wonkwang University in Korea and another at Accademia di Belle Arti in Italy in 2009. His works have been exhibited in Korea, Italy, Spain and France. His participation in Bergen Rocks is the first time he has worked in North America.
Two ropes coming together into a knot. Uk says that the millions of fibres that would be inside these large ropes represent the peoples of the world. We are all interacting more in these modern times now than ever before but we are not making a complete connection. When we figure out how to do it properly, with respect for each other the knot will come together………we will have made the right connection.
photo credit Maria Bernice Icaro-Hagag
"Journey of the Phoenix"
Ebru Akinci, Turkey, Marble, 2011
From 1997-2003 Ebru studied at the Sculpture Departmant of Mimar Sinan University in Istanbul. Her sculptures can be found around the world, she has been very active in the international sculpture community. In addition to sculpture, Ebru is trained and very skilled at painting, she has had great success in both mediums.
"Happy Family"
Morton Burke, Folded Steel, 2019
“Happy Family” is a sculpture that would be categorized as “Sculpture from found objects”. This sculpture is made from pieces that were cut off the top of I-beam piles after they were pounded into the ground by a pile driver for the foundation of a large building. Repeated hammering shaped the tops into interesting forms. After living with the pieces for some time at home Morton realized that they represent a family.
"Twins"
Morton Burke, Marble, 2019
“Twins” is another sculpture from found objects, I felt these forms looked like babies in their Mom’s belly, they haven’t been born yet. The sculpture is also reminiscent of the Yin and Yang symbol which means , roughly translated, harmony or balance and would be important for twins to possess.
"Fountain"
Morton Burke/Brad Callihoo
Some of the cut offs from the larger sculptures are beautiful. I have been keeping them to make smaller sculptures from and realized they would also make beautiful fountains. My good friend, Brad Callihoo has traveled to many events with me and attended all of the Bergen Rocks symposia to photo document my projects. He came down one weekend and gave me a hand to make a few for the park, this one is exhibited, its very relaxing with water cascading over the polished and natural surfaces of the stone. (These fountain stones are for sale, inquire when you visit or drop me an email)
"Bell"
Chander Parkash, India, Sandstone, 2010
Chander’s original concept was to have 3 stone bells hanging in “The Gates to Heaven, Everyone Can Go” He completed this one, that weighs about 500lb, before he changed his design. I had some old propane bottles, the type used for BBQs, he completed three bells using those and then found various pieces of oilfield pipe in my “sculpture supplies” he decided to go with steel and make 5 bells, one for each participant.
“Bell” hangs between two large spruce trees near “The Gates to Heaven” The propane tank bells are also exhibited.
