Death of a sweet angel - Clara Guardo Paradis

Clara Guardo Paradis, 1935-2013

It is with a heavy heart that I have to write that a terrific lady, one of the daughters of Joseph Guardo, passed away peacefully on the 15th of June, 2013. She was passionate about all things in life but especially about the wonderful art that her father produced over his lifetime. We worked together on this very blog, as well as elsewhere on the net, spreading the word on his art.

I am including a short biography of her life as well as a few examples of her art. She followed in her father's footsteps - she was an accomplished artist in her own right.

Biography

Clara was born in Montreal in 1935. Guided by her Parents, and surrounded by her three sisters, she grew up in an atmosphere of love, happiness, art, and culture.

She demonstrated an exceptional intellectual aptitude. She graduated from high school Magna cum laude and was listed as one of the top ten students in all of Quebec. She graduated from Marianopolis College in Montreal in 1956, Cum Laude. She was Valedictorian as well as Editor-in-Chief of the Year book.

She met the love of her life, Jean Paradis, in 1953, and they married in 1956. They lived in various cities in Canada and the United States, and traveled extensively all over the world.

Throughout her life the most important thing was family and friends. She was a caring and loving wife, a wonderful mother of three sons, a doting grandmother of five, and an awe inspiring great grandmother of one. She was also a loyal and trustworthy family relative, or friend, to many others.

It is said that behind every great man there is a great woman. Certainly the case with Clara. An invaluable help, she demonstrated an understated elegance, impeccable manners, and sharp wit. She was able to be comfortable in any social or business situation.

She also had interests outside the home. In 1965 she was responsible for helping establish Chateauguy’s first Library and Civic Centre, and during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s she taught English as a second language to recent immigrants to Canada. 

She was passionate about life, with hobbies ranging from Art, to Music, Ballroom dancing, Travel, Bridge, Reading, and Cinema. A true beauty inside and out, she was loved, respected, and admired by all those who had the privilege to meet and know her.

In her later years, she continued working on a project started by her sister (Ada) documenting the art of her father, well-known Canadian sculptor Joseph Guardo. His extensive body of work includes a number of objets d’art that can be found at Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. She was also an accomplished artist in her own right.

Samples of her work

Copenhagen Flower Market

 

Study in White

Bangkok Floating Market

Sailing at Sunset

Storm

St. Patrick's Church - Cambridge Massachusetts

A touch of sadness over another church closing, and unknown whereabouts of another set of wonderful High and Bas-Relief panels sculpted by Joseph Guardo. These four original pieces were sculpted for Saint Patrick's Church at 40 York Street, in Cambridge Massachusetts during the period 1963-1965. Each large panel measured approx. 7'-0" x 8'-0" and represented Our Lord among the Doctors, the Apparition of Fatima, the Presentation of the Magi, and the Ascension.

The sadness comes from knowing that they might have been lost forever. You see the church was closed and sold in 1989, and though we are still researching the matter, no one seems to know what became of them. Were they destroyed? Can they be found on display elsewhere? Are they being stored in a basement somewhere? I remain hopeful but for now my questions remain unanswered.....

On a more positive note, at least the art will never be forgotten. I am including photos of the panels taken in the studio, as well as several original Joseph Guardo sketches. Enjoy the beauty and details of each.

Sketch of 'Our Lord among the Doctors' - 1963

Studio photo of 'Our Lord among the Doctors' before final touches applied - 1963

Sketch of 'Apparition of Fatima' - 1964

Studio photo of 'Apparition of Fatima' before final touches applied - 1964

Studio photo of 'Presentation of the Magi' before final touches applied - 1965

Studio photo of 'The Ascension' before final touches applied - 1965

Brescia Hall - Ursuline College of Arts - 1955

Our Odyssey continues with another discovery. Joseph Guardo did a number of statues for the Ursuline Order, including this 7'-0" statue over the Entrance of the Brescia Hall of the Ursuline College of Arts (part of the University of Western Ontario) in London, Ontario. The statue, Our Lady of the Guard (Notre-Dame de la Garde) was sculpted in 1955 of imitation Indiana Limestone.

We wish to thank Sheila Blagrave, Director of Communications, Marketing, and External Relations of Brescia University College, and Kim Young Milani of Brescia Hall for the photos. They clearly show the beauty and majesty of the statue.

Photo: Courtesy of Sheila Blagrave
Director of Communications, Marketing, and External Relations
Brescia University College

2013 Photo: Courtesy of Kim Young Milani, Brescia Hall

Pietà - Saint Joseph"s Oratory in Montreal

Hidden treasures seem to abound everywhere we look. Joseph Guardo sculpted a spectacular statue of the Pietà for Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal but it is my understanding that it is currently in storage at the Oratory. I think it would be a welcome addition to any Art collection in the world!

We have included photos of Joseph Guardo sculpting in his studio in 1947, and a more recent picture taken by Père André Bergeron of the Oratory in 2006.

Studio Photo - 1947

Photo courtesy of Père André Bergeron, Saint Joseph's Oratory - 2006

Canada Post Shield - Corner of Cathcart and University Streets in Montreal

Time marches on relentlessly...

Joseph Guardo sculpted the following shield for a Canada Post office located at the corner of Cathcart and University Streets in Montreal sometime during the 1940's,  but low and behold it has since (recently) been turned into a Tim Hortons. Fortunately, unlike in so many other situations where buildings or institutions have change hands and art has been lost forever, this particular work of art is still being displayed in all its glory on two separate facades. How may people would be aware that it was sculpted by Joseph Guardo? We have included a photo taken sometime during the time frame when the Shield was installed, as well as two more recent photos (included courtesy of Google Maps StreetView).

On-site photo circa late 1940's

Recent photo from Cathcart - Courtesy of Google Maps StreetView

Recent photo from University - Courtesy of Google Maps StreetView