Written
Recognition
"An artist must have a cause -- a philosophy he feels strongly about," says sculptor Ian Trowell.
"Trowell has one, and now he's facing the problem of whether he's willing to starve for it..." -- Wendie Kerr, The Mirror, Metro Toronto, August 24, 1966.
"At the Pollock Gallery, Ian Trowell uses a predictably representational material like bronze to outline startlingly modern statements on today's society... The gutsy things like 'Cornered' (couple in a cocktail trap) and 'Confrontation' (bronze bunny bosoms, pretty fearful) and that marvellous '30.30 A.M.' Are stinging enough to need no fancy backing... Obviously he has made a study of man and woman...
"It is in his studies of the vanities, the stupidities and the humour of the tribe that he does such an unusual job. he makes his sardonic commentary on the human scene with skill as a sculptor and also as a man concerned for the world he lives in." -- Kay Kritzwiser, art critic, the Globe and Mail, Toronto, May 6 and 13 and November, 1967.
"Trowell works only in bronze, and most of his works are single cast, small figures. They make statements on life today -- man's relationship with man (and, of course, woman).
"Although he takes a serious view of life, his figures project a light air... A slightly tongue-in-cheek look at some serious manifestations of our society." -- Patricia Sykes, Daily Journal Record, Oakville, ON., October 1, 1970.
"Toronto sculptor Ian Trowell won the top award Monday night at the annual exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists. He received the $500 award for his bronze sculpture Subway At Bloor." -- Toronto Daily Star, March 10, 1971.
"This is the dichotomy of his (Trowell's) work: he either sculpts cartoon-like scenes with great delicacy and a delightful sense of fun, or passionate, strong, sensuous figures. Both sides of his work would seem to fit well into public spaces." -- David Piper, editor, Canadian Interiors Magazine, Toronto, July, 1972.
"... His (Trowell's) strong Armstones series, based on arms and hands, are representative only of someone truly dedicated to his form of expression." -- Linda Turner, The St. Catharines Standard, ON, May 31, 1973.
"At Shaw-Rimmington Gallery... Ian Trowell's small bronze sculptures are a continuation of his Armstones series, which grew logically from his early emphasis on the human form. Trowell now dissects the body, using its components to express a variety of human qualities." -- The Globe and Mail, Toronto, November 3, 1973.
"With Trowell there are no short cuts. Each work, however small, is translated into its most effective image. The spectator will be well rewarded if he or she will take the time to share with Trowell the relationship of pairs, his humour and his fantasy." -- Moncrieff Williamson, Director, Confederation Art Gallery & Museum, Charlottetown, P.E.I., February, 1980.
"The Trowell Touch is more than simply the name of this exhibition. The hand as self- portrait also has an element of humour, a lighter touch evident not only here but in the Hair Stylist, Conspiracy of Three and the bronzes of the Toronto Subway series... We are grateful to Ian Trowell for giving us this insight into his life and art." -- Mark B. Holton, Curator, Confederation Art Gallery & Museum., February, 1980.