A
Prince Edward Island man who turned scraps of wood and metal into beautiful art
pieces is being remembered this week for his contribution to the province’s
folk art community.
Kerras Trent Jeffery, 51, died
at his home in Alma, P.E.I., on June 1.
“I knew him for four years and
I came to love him. He was infectious,” says his friend, Larry Dugdale of
French River, who delivered the eulogy at his funeral Sunday at the E. Gerald
Rooney Memorial Chapel in Alberton.
“Kerras is remembered as the
finest folk artist that P.E.I. has ever seen. He is also remembered for his
absolute talent.”
Whether it’s the double-headed
pigs carvings, the King Tut masks, the Canada Mountie beaver or the bear
sculpture that guards his back door, the artist was known for his creative,
playful spirit.
“Everything he did was made
from repurposed materials. He would take an old gun that had lost his value,
carve a moose, put it on the end and call it a moose gun. He made the Guinness
book of World Records for building the largest egg beater in the world in
2005,” says Dugdale.
With an exhibition in Calgary
and a website, his sculptures have been sold “all over Canada and beyond.” His
commissioned work includes pieces created for Kingsbridge Garden, St. Andrews,
N.B.
Jeffery, who ran Back Road Folk
Art, also received media attention during his 20-year career. He was featured
on “Canadian Pickers,” on CBC Radio with Shelagh Rogers and in “Saltscapes”
magazine, this past Feburary as well as in The Guardian.
Jeffery, in an earlier
interview, said he gradually got into folk art.
“I pinch myself sometimes. I
enjoy what I’m doing. I used to be a labourer, but when I got into this, it was
like a day at the beach,” says Jeffery in the video, “If You Build It — North
Cape Coastal Drive’s Coastal Stories" (see the video below).
The folk artist is survived by
his wife, Shirley (nee Hustler) Jeffery and children Courtney Jeffery (Travis
Gaudette) and Corinda Jeffery (Matt Capicotto) and his special fur baby
"Calvin".
Born on April 6, 1966, he was
the son of Wilbert and Verna (nee McDowell) Jeffery of Alberton. A
brother to Carter, Robert (Barb), Randy (Christine), Diane (Glen) Wallace,
Kenny (Jody), Darlene (Rheal) Lacroix he is remembered by his grandmother
Empress (late Roy) McDowell, of O'Leary. He is also survived by brothers and
sisters-in-law, Nick Doucette (Carl), Roy Hustler (Eleanor), Bernice Costain
(Gary), Norma Blacquiere (Arnold), Peter Hustler (Lorraine), Winnifred Hustler
(Ivan), Priscilla Handrahan (Wendell), Barry Hustler (Rita), Joey Hustler
(Darlene), Normie Hustler (Jaunita).
