Harry Rosen

Tribute to Harry Rosen by Ezra Soiferman

Nov. 17, 2018 - Montreal

Tomorrow is the funeral for my friend Harry Rosen. Dr. Rosen, who died on Thursday at the age of 89, was Emeritus Professor at the McGill Faculty of Dentistry, a pioneer in prosthodontics and a celebrated and immensely talented and driven sculptor.

It was a privilege to document Harry's sculptures over the past ten years through photographs. What fascinated me most about Harry was how he seemed to be built of the very same stones he found, moved, chipped, ground, molded, cast, set, donated, showed and shared. Like his sculptures, this gentle giant of a man was unshakeable and unmistakeable. A rock-solid mensch.

My sincere condolences to Harry’s wife Delores, his entire family and his many friends, fans, students and colleagues.

-Ezra

Updates:

The funeral took place Sunday, November 18th at Paperman’s in Montreal. You can read the beautiful notice his family wrote at the Paperman’s site: https://www.paperman.com/en/funerals/2018-11-18-dr--harry--rosen

The Montreal Gazette published an obituary about Harry’s life and career here: https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/obituary-harry-rosen-montreal-dentist-and-maker-of-imposing-public-art

To learn more about Harry’s career and his sculptures, please visit his official site: http://www.drharryrosen.ca

Below is a gallery of images I took of Harry at work up at his family cottage in Lake Patrick, QC, and the many sculptures he donated to institutions around Montreal.

Harry in front of “Venus in the Half Shell” up at his family’s country home in Lake Patrick, QC, in 2008.

Harry’s sculpture garden in Lake Patrick, 2009. The sculpture “Inukshuk - Bienvenue / Welcome” is at right.

“Venus in the Half Shell, ” Lake Patrick, QC

Close-up of “Venus in the Half Shell,” Lake Patrick, QC

Rear view of “Venus in the Half Shell,” Lake Patrick, QC

A wire sculpture at Lake Patrick

Part of Harry’s shore area at Lake Patrick. All stones were dredged up from the lake by Harry using chains and pulleys.

Detail of Rosen family home at Lake Patrick. All stonework by Harry.

Detail of wall

At work up in Lake Patrick, 2008

Stone shards

The artist’s hand in his basement shed at Lake Patrick

Metal sculpture at Lake Patrick

Unveiling of “Eternal Youth” at the Westmount Y in 2013.

At the Westmount Y inauguration in 2013

“The Connection,” donated to the the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, 2013

At the dedication of “Maximus”, donated to the MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre, 2014

Harry and “Maximus”

Shadow of “Maximus”, MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre

“Raising the Bar”, donated to the Herzl Family Practice Centre at the Jewish General Hospital, 2016

With the installation crew at the Herzl, 2016

Plaque at the Herzl during installation, 2016

CTV-Montreal journalist Caroline van Vlaardingen interviewing Harry at Dawson College, 2017

Being interviewed by CBC at Dawson College, 2017

“The Climber”, donated to Dawson College, 2017

Detail of “The Climber”, Dawson College, 2017

At the inauguration of “The Climber”, Dawson College, 2017

Harry and his wife Delores at the inauguration of “The Climber”, Dawson College, 2017

“Maximus”, donated to the MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre. Photo taken the day after Harry’s passing in November 2018.

“To the Summit and Beyond,” donated to Mount-Sinai Hospital in Côte-Saint-Luc, QC. Photo taken the day after Harry’s passing in November, 2018.

“The Connection,” donated to the Segal Centre for Performing Arts. Photo taken the day after Harry’s passing in November, 2018.

“Eternal Youth” at the Westmount Y. Photo taken the day after Harry’s passing in November, 2018.

“The Ascent”, donated to the Lady Davis Research Institute of the Jewish General Hospital. Photo taken the day after Harry’s passing in November, 2018.

“Reliance”, donated to the Eleanor London Public Library, Côte-Saint-Luc, QC. Photo taken the day after Harry’s passing in November, 2018.

Detail of “To the Summit and Beyond” donated to Mount-Sinai Hospital in Côte-Saint-Luc, QC. Photo taken the day after Harry’s passing in November, 2018.

“The Climber”, donated to Dawson College, 2017. Photo taken the day after Harry passed away in November, 2018.

In front of “Raising the Bar”, at the Herzl Family Practice Centre at the Jewish General Hospital, 2016