Witold Gracjan Kawalec
Encyclopedia
Witold Gracjan Kawalec was a Polish-born sculptor who worked mainly in England.
in 1922. Working for the Polish resistance movement during World War II
, he was captured by Russian soldiers. Later he joined a Polish Army unit in Palestine
. He took part in the bitter fighting at Tobruk
during the North Africa campaign. From North Africa he joined the Royal Air Force in England.
In 1942 he was accepted for training in the Royal Air Force
. While serving near Nottingham
he married a fellow Pole in the WRAF, Danuta Banszel. He was then posted to No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron
at Exeter
.
and continued his studies in sculpture at Nottingham College of Art
. In 1953 he opened his first studio and produced much of his work in alabaster
. The themes of his abstract forms were influenced by his experiences during World War II
. In 1959 he had a piece selected for the Royal Academy summer exhibition
, and in 1963 his exhibition at the Drian Gallery led to his connection with the hospice movement. His best known work is the sculpture for Dame Cicely Saunders
’s St Christopher's Hospice at Sydenham
. It shows St Christopher carrying Christ
across the water. The sculpture was unveiled by Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
.
In 1966 he created sculptures for Revd Kenneth Cook for the tops of the pillars in St. Aidan's Church, Basford
in Nottingham
.
In 1976 he moved and established a sculpture garden in an orchard near Crediton
. He created a statue of St Boniface for Crediton Parish Church
.
Early life
He was born in Wilno, PolandSecond Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
in 1922. Working for the Polish resistance movement during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was captured by Russian soldiers. Later he joined a Polish Army unit in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. He took part in the bitter fighting at Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
during the North Africa campaign. From North Africa he joined the Royal Air Force in England.
In 1942 he was accepted for training in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. While serving near Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
he married a fellow Pole in the WRAF, Danuta Banszel. He was then posted to No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron
No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron
No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron was a Polish night fighter squadron formed in Great Britain on 24 August 1940 as a result of an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom...
at Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
.
Sculpture
After the war he moved to NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and continued his studies in sculpture at Nottingham College of Art
Nottingham Trent University, School of Art and Design
Founded in 1843, the School of Art and Design at Nottingham Trent University is one of the oldest in the United Kingdom and currently has more than 2,500 students.-History:...
. In 1953 he opened his first studio and produced much of his work in alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
. The themes of his abstract forms were influenced by his experiences during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1959 he had a piece selected for the Royal Academy summer exhibition
Royal Academy summer exhibition
The Summer Exhibition is an open art exhibition held annually by the Royal Academy in Burlington House, Piccadilly in central London, England, during the summer months of June, July, and August...
, and in 1963 his exhibition at the Drian Gallery led to his connection with the hospice movement. His best known work is the sculpture for Dame Cicely Saunders
Cicely Saunders
Dame Cicely Mary Saunders, was a prominent Anglican, nurse, physician and writer, involved with many international universities...
’s St Christopher's Hospice at Sydenham
Sydenham
Sydenham is an area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham; although some streets towards Crystal Palace Park, Forest Hill and Penge are outside the ward and in the London Borough of Bromley, and some streets off Sydenham Hill are in the London Borough of Southwark. Sydenham was in...
. It shows St Christopher carrying Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
across the water. The sculpture was unveiled by Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy is the youngest granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck. She is the widow of Sir Angus Ogilvy...
.
In 1966 he created sculptures for Revd Kenneth Cook for the tops of the pillars in St. Aidan's Church, Basford
St. Aidan's Church, Basford
St. Aidan's Church, Basford is a parish church in the Church of England in Basford, Nottingham.-History:The church was built in 1905 by Robert Evans and Sons, as a chapel of ease to St...
in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
.
In 1976 he moved and established a sculpture garden in an orchard near Crediton
Crediton
Crediton is a town and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon in England. It stands on the A377 Exeter to Barnstaple road at the junction with the A3072 road to Tiverton, about north west of Exeter. It has a population of 6,837...
. He created a statue of St Boniface for Crediton Parish Church
Crediton Parish Church
The Church of the Holy Cross and the Mother of Him who hung thereon is a prominent building and worshipping community in the Devon town of Crediton. The church was the cathedral of the Lord Bishop of Crediton in the former diocese until 1050 when the See was transferred to Exeter...
.