Solomon King (artist)

Not to be confused with Solomon King the rugby player or Solomon King the American singer.

Solomon King is a Canadian Anishinaabe sculptor and stone artisan. King is from Neyaashiinigmiing, Ontario and is a member of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. ^[1]

Career

King was commissioned to design a turtle sculpture for the Spirit Garden at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. ^[2] The turtle is positioned climbing above a boulder and represents survivors of the residential school system. The turtle has tiles on its back symbolizing various indigenous peoples. ^[3] It is made out of limestone, is six feet tall, and weighs ten tonnes. King started working on the project after a discussion with the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre. He sculpted the turtle on farmland in Barrie. ^[4]

King is founder and principal mason of Stone Artisan Studios Ltd in Toronto. ^[5]

In May 2022 King was selected with Emily Kewageshig to create public art for the renovation of the Raymond A. Barker Water Treatment Plant in Collingwood, Ontario. ^{[6] [7]}

Notable works

• King, Solomon (2025). Restoration of Identity [limestone sculpture]. Spirit Garden, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ^{[8] [9]}
• King, Solomon; Lo, Byron (November 11, 2014). Sagamok War Memorial [mixed stone]. Sagamok, Ontario, Canada. ^{[10] [11]}
• King, Solomon; King, Trinh (2021). Notes from the Earth [mixed materials]. Myhal Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. –via University of Toronto Art Museum.

References

1. Marcelo, Breanna (September 30, 2024). "Toronto unveils Spirit Garden to honour residential school survivors". NOW Toronto. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
2. Maracle, Candace. "Toronto opens Spirit Garden, a space for residential school survivors, in Nathan Phillips Square". CBC News. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
3. "Bringing stone to life, with Solomon King". Two Row Times . Retrieved 6 January 2025.
4. McSwain, Regan. "A symbolic new garden just opened at Toronto City Hall. Here's what it's all about". Toronto Star. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
5. "Design Build≤ Restoration Stonescapes". Stone Artisan Studios. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
6. Pounder, Megan (May 31, 2022). "First Nations artists chosen to create art for new water plant". CollingwoodToday.ca. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
7. Engel, Erika (October 28, 2022). "Collingwood water plant expansion design rides wave of firsts". CollingwoodToday.ca. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
8. "Restoration of Identity" (PDF). Retrieved January 6, 2025.
9. Maracle, Candace (November 15, 2024). "Toronto opens Spirit Garden, a space for residential school survivors, in Nathan Phillips Square". CBC. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
10. Toulouse, Allen (November 2014). "Stone Artisan Studios brings Anishnawbek vision to Sagamok War Memorial". Sagamok Anishinabek News. Sagamok, Ontario, Canada: Sagimok Anishnawbek. pp. 3–4. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
11. Toulouse, Allen (December 2014). "War Veterans Memorial unveiled on Remembrance Day". Sagamok Anishinabek News. Sagamok, Ontario, Canada: Sagimok Anishnawbek. p. 9. Retrieved January 6, 2024.