At the Crossroads

About the Book

In experiencing the creativity of Ken Horn, we catch a glimpse into the artist’s world of whimsy and joy, perception and empathy; his reflection of the human spirit as communicated through painting and verse. Ken’s vision and expression is multifaceted; it grabs the heart while it tickles the funny-bone; it challenges the imagination and the intellect. His talent is truly unique.

About the Author

Ken Horn was born in Port Glasgow, Scotland in 1947. Although ‘The Arts’ were not a focus in this rough and rowdy town of shipyards and pubs, as a child, Ken loved to draw. He recalls being encouraged in his art by a doctor who paid a visit to his room when he was ill and was impressed by the detailed illustrations of dinosaurs that covered young Ken’s walls. Horn studied art in Sweden and at Croydon Art College in England before coming to Canada in 1975, where he spent a year studying art conservation in Ontario. He is not, however, an ‘academic’ painter. His style is ever changing and he says he has “finally come to terms with that fact.” He cites among his influences the French Primitive artist Henri Rousseau and the deeply spiritual Canadian painter William Kurelek. Horn also greatly admires the work of the British mystic and visionary artist Stanley Spencer who, coincidentally, depicted Ken’s hometown in his “Shipbuilding on the Clyde” series and the painting “Resurrection in Port Glasgow.” Horn respects such diverse voices as those of Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, Bruce Cockburn and Sting as they share an ability to express an intimate connection with the aspect of reality called ‘spirit’ or ‘soul’, the mythic and the mystical. This integration of things both seen and unseen has clearly touched Ken deeply and is consistently evident in his verse. When he first came to Canada, Ken tried his hand at many occupations, as he had upon leaving school in Europe. A small sample: he published a newspaper, was a mine worker and drove taxi. He settled on Canada’s west coast in the early 1980s, married and supported his family through house painting. He continues to live in Victoria with his wife Leslie and their two teenage children, daughter Kezia and son Caleb. In their home, surrounded by a garry oak meadow, next to a creek that runs to the sea, the Horn’s enjoy the balance and inspiration of both urban and rural landscape. During the 1980s Ken decided to commit to the development of his artistic gifts. Enlivened by the images and spirit of early Celtic art. Ken initially worked in black and white Celtic designs. He has since spent a season or two working in clay but from about 1997 to the present he has concentrated mainly on the use of acrylics. Horn’s visual art is often presented with verse (as in this publication), which adds a unique vitality and poignant beauty to his work, as well as a hint of each painting’s deeper meaning to the artist. “The poems which accompany my pictures have become a way for me to better understand my work, a way perhaps for others to step further into the images” says Ken, “but in the end of course your poem would be as relevant as mine.” Ken’s life and work was profiled in the Spring 2002 issue of Boulevard Magazine. His painting and poetry provided the frame for a feature article about the artist - his art work graced the Victoria art and entertainment magazine’s cover. He has also been featured locally on Shaw Television ( Up Close and Personal, 2001) and nationally in a video documentary of his poems and paintings presented on Bravo television network. He participates in both group and solo exhibitions, particularly on Vancouver Island.