Ted Rinkel is a self-trained artist, a retired truck driver and an avid collector. For years he did long-haul trips across Canada encountering a diversity of people and curiosities. A walk through his Southeast Calgary home is a testament to his travels. Art, antiques and found objects are at home with his unique, whimsical and often humorous wooden sculptures.

Rinkel was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to Alberta with his family after the Second World War. They worked for a short time on a sugar beet farm near Lethbridge before settling in Calgary a few years later. The farming and cowboy culture he was first exposed to have served as inspiration for many drawings throughout his life, but the decision to translate these drawings into three-dimensional figures came about during his retirement. This shift was made possible by having more free time, and he was motivated by his admiration for the wood carved folk art sculptures he collected during drives through Quebec.

From bicycle rides to campfires to bucking horses, the scenes in Around the Block are drawn from Rinkel’s observations on the road and in his neighbourhood. Each scene begins with a hand-drawn stencil that he traces onto a block of wood and cuts away using a scroll saw. The parts are shaped using a rotary tool and assembled with wood glue and nails. In some scenes, he incorporates found objects and recycled materials such as bones, rocks, rope and tuna cans. The final step is to add vibrant colours using a combination of spray paints and acrylics. What emerges are animated figures that illustrate familiar narratives. They bring levity and joy to their audience and provide a window into the colourful personality of their creator.