Peter Manchester
Artist and Best Selling Author
Hockey and art may seem like an unlikely mix but don't tell that to local artist/illustrator and best selling author Peter Manchester. After turning trash into treasures for over a decade, transforming hockey sticks into works of useful art was a natural transition for Manchester.
The result of his fascination with the game and its paraphernalia was his book 50 Things To Do With A Broken Hockey Stick. The Sackville resident, who is a long time collector of broken hockey sticks and a huge fan of Canada's game, saw his book top the best sellers list in 2002. Since then he hasn't looked back!
Manchester explained he isn't finished poking a bit of fun at Canada's favourite past-time just yet. He pointed out the book has evolved into another project using old or broken hockey gear such as masks. In fact, the artist has created 20 new works of art out of hockey masks that he describes as "fetishist type stuff." Although he hasn't got a show planned yet for his latest hockey inspired creations, Manchester hasn't ruled it out. "They have a lot of potential," he said.
Without giving too much away about his next foray into the realm of hockey gear as art, the Sackville artist and author explained that the higher one goes through the levels of hockey; atom, peewee, midget, etc., the more superstitious and ritualistic the behaviour of the players becomes. He pointed out if one observed this behaviour they would see deeper overtones and belief systems at play.
"With the hockey equipment I've developed a fictional mythology of the spirits evoked in the game of hockey," explained Manchester. It is this superstition and ritual that has fueled the creativity of this Sackville artist and author. He continues to collect hockey sticks and other gear and is hard at work creating the art and the written mythology to help tell the story of hockey as seen through his creative mind's eye.
Manchester will be approaching his publisher soon to start work on a second book that he hopes will be as well received as his first. Already a best seller in Canada, that book may soon be picked up by an American publisher for distribution in the United States.
When he isn't dreaming up new uses for hockey sticks or goalie masks, Manchester is a busy illustrator and painter. His illustrations are mostly client driven and encompass a variety of styles from technical to cartoon. Manchester also paints in a realistic style and has been shown in numerous galleries. He is planning to exhibit his paintings during the summer of 2003 at a several galleries including Fog Forest in Sackville and the Capitol Theatre in Moncton.