Mavis Ehlert 1922-2007

Mavis Ehlert 1922-2007
Mavis Ehlert made many contributions to the Hamilton community.
Mavis was the only Hamilton artist out of 91 other artists to exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in 1967. She was valued by the Artisan Guild of Hamilton and the Sculpture Society of Canada.
Mavis Ehlert was recognized at the First Awards Banquet in 1980. Hamilton-Wentworth Creative Arts and CKOC radio nominated Mavis Ehlert as one of the top Sculptors in the Excellence to the Arts search. She was presented with a plaque for her Contribution to the Artistic Community by CJJD radio, (now known as CHAM, CKOC) and CREATIVE ARTS.
Ancaster residents are proud of the Ancaster Girl named Dianne, Ehlert's sculpture that sits on a boulder outside the library. The statue was bought by the Ancaster and Hilltop Garden Clubs and donated for the Ancaster Centennial in 1967.
Mavis made a beaver to be given to Kaga, Japan when the city was twinned with Dundas, Ontario in 1968. The Hamilton Club of Hamilton, On. bought a bronze reclining figure of a woman for their permanent collection. She taught sculpture and ceramics at the Jewish Community Centre and Central Secondary School. She learned commercial art and sculpture at St. Martin's School of Art and the Chelsea School of Art.
Mavis was a serious artist and a homemaker. She lived in a cozy modest home in Westdale, Hamilton from 1955 with her husband Stanley and three children: Juliet, Nick, and James. She has three grandchildren: Ben, Jason and Clara Mae and a great grandchild named Trinity. At the Ehlert home, you can find the images of former Mayor of Hamilton Vic Copps, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Glenn Gould the piano player, and Pauline Johnson and Joseph Brant. She also sculptured the Bay City Rollers, a popular seventies band from Scotland.
Mavis Ehlert made a sculpture of Gwen Metcalf for International Woman's Year in 1975. Gwen, the former Curator of Dundurn Castle, exclaimed "For once someone captured me with my mouth shut."
Mavis helped promote downtown Hamilton:
She designed and constructed Elmer the Safety Elephant for the Hamilton Police safety division. She made a giant snowman for Hamilton ’s winter carnival and two giant rabbits named Downy and Towny to help promote downtown Hamilton .
She was known in Burlington: Mavis created a head to remember local hockey coach Reginald Hennessy. His widow Kamara applauded Mavis Ehlert's accomplishment, "She really captured him, even the flare of his nostrils and jutting chin." That same sculpture was stolen from Burlington Central Arena and has never been recovered.
There was a significant showing of Mavis Ehlert's fine work at the Hamilton Art Gallery for Hamilton’s 125th birthday celebration on June 12, 1971. Her sculpture was one of the highlights! Ehlert’s terra cotta sculpture entitled “Oil slick,” depicted a seabird plastered with oil, which is dying of suffocation. The bird was a startling departure from the careful studies of people for which Mavis is known. This freely worked piece of art has the pathos and real feeling that is sometimes missing in her other art. One man commented, “That’s what I feel. In my imagination, that’s how I see it.” Journalist, John Bryden, believed that the Sculpture by Mavis Ehlert was the top attraction at the Hamilton Art Gallery in January 1973. "Mrs. Ehlert is a true sculptor who attempts to animate using the subtle dramatic beauty of human form which brings the clay to life." Bryden wrote.
Mavis has her own way of looking at birds.
Mavis Ehlert gave life to the bird spirit using bronze, fibre glass, plaster, cement fondue, rubber, clay, and terra cotta. The birds symbolize love and appeal to our fascination with wings and flying. Journalist, Linda Crabtree said "Her bird forms are sensitive portraits of motherhood."
Mavis helped promote art in Hamilton. The first art festival in Gore Park was in 1968. “Hamilton’s big enough to support an artist colony but the people are not aware that there is one,” said Mavis Ehlert the sculptor. “We need this, especially in Gore Park. Up to now one only saw the very old and the very young here. But look what this has done!” she pointed to the crowd. “Normally, Hamilton artists and craftsmen are invited to show their goods in cities and towns around Hamilton but never in Hamilton,” Mavis explained. “It is about time we were given an opportunity here!” Her studio is lined with heads, unclothed figures and a breastfeeding mother. The bronze figures honour femininity and the gift of life.
She made life like statues of her sons, daughter, granddaughter, the boy-next-door, and her daughter-in-law. The heads of Jamie and Jennie sparkle with innocence.
The Weightlifter is evidence that Mavis was influenced Rodin. Fairy tale characters and Dancers look as if they could start dancing. The Spirit of Life opens her arms to the sun. Mavis loved beauty and individuality.
She explained, "We have enough ugliness in our lives without putting it into our art." She liked to sketch people at the beach.
Ehlert’s free form pottery is not shaped with potter’s wheel. "Why do pots have to be perfectly circular? A pot can be functional and a piece of sculpture at the same time.”