East Toronto artist decorates Swedish beaver sculpture in advance of FIFA World Cup games in city

East Toronto artist Jack Jensen is ready for the start of  the FIFA World Cup this week, and he’s painted a Swedish beaver to prove it.

In January, the Old Town Toronto BIA asked artists to submit their ideas in connection to the 48 countries that would vie for world soccer supremacy. Each successful applicant would pick up a resin and fiberglass beaver and would paint it to represent the artist’s chosen country.

Jensen, a Danforth Avenue and Dawes Road resident for about the past four years, responded and included his experience including more than 50 years of painting, 40 years of bronze casting, 30 years of paper casting plus work in mediums new to him since moving to Toronto.

Jensen’s ties to his roots in Denmark, Norway and England were a bit more tenuous, relating mostly to Scandinavian food.

In mid-April, Jensen submitted his proposal for painting a beaver that would represent Sweden. After three iterations about the proposed look of the beaver sculpture, the Old Town Toronto BIA awarded the depiction of a Swedish Viking soccer fan beaver to Jensen. On April 20, the basic resin beaver sculpture was available and Jensen delivered it to the Creative Works Studio where he is a volunteer.

There was a lot of interest expressed by studio members in the progress of the beaver project.

Between April 20 and May 10, Jensen worked at creating a horned helmet, a shield and a flail (Viking weapon consisting of a studded metal ball attached to a wooden handle with a chain). In addition, Jensen fashioned clothing for this Swedish soccer fan.

It has now been installed by the Old Town Toronto BIA which is located between Yonge and Parliament streets to the west and east, and Queen Street East and the Gardiner Expressway to the north and south.

A more precise location regarding Jansen’s creation cannot be given at this time as the Old Town Toronto BIA has hosted a treasure hunt for what is a total of 51 decorated beavers that were installed within the BIA area. For more information, please go to https://www.oldtowntoronto.ca