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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 5, 2008 - 37 Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2008 Mystery of lakefront stone sculptures solved Creator a 27-year-old local graphic designer would be such a mass appeal. I can't explain how happy I am that everyone else is enjoying it." The mystery started with a phone Ruminski attended Sheridan call. College, studying art fundamentals, A resident of the Lakeshore and animation, and interactive multimeTrafalgar area contacted The Oakville dia. Beaver, informing us that someone He said he started building small had built beautiful stone sculptures stone sculptures as a way to relieve along the lakefront. The creations stress. He's been building them for a were there Friday, Aug. 22 and while, usually in private spaces, such Saturday, Aug. 23, but on Sunday, as at his cottage up north, or in places Aug. 24, they disappeared, the caller like Gairloch Gardens. said. "The first time I did it, I remember She didn't know who the creator that I was trying to was and didn't have kill some time in any photos. She downtown Oakville, wondered if the "I didn't think there would and I don't know Beaver could help be such a mass appeal. I what brought it on, solve the case of the can't explain how happy I but I started stackunknown artist. am that everyone else is ing stones," he said. This news tip enjoying it." "I started doing was supported by a research, read second phone call. Eddie Ruminski, mystery artist about the inukshuk This caller said that and read about she had seen the artists doing similar same statues and believed them to be ideas and it just became a hobby of by renowned British environmental mine." artist, Andrew Goldsworthy. He decided to try a more open, A letter to the editor ran in the public space in late August, so he Beaver last Friday, with a note appealheaded down to the waterfront at the ing for more information, and a flood base of Trafalgar, which is a short of e-mails, some with photos, brought drive from his house. us closer to the answer. When told of the compliments he's After a few follow-up telephone received in e-mails and phone mescalls and messages left with answersages, including one stating that the ing machines of all types, the creator statues were more impressive than himself contacted the newspaper. Stonehenge, this cheery mystery man Meet Eddie Ruminski. suddenly becomes bashful. This is the 27-year-old artist "People mention things like that behind the sculptures that have creatto me when they see it, and I've been ed such a stir in the community. blown away," he said. But he isn't an artist. He's actually "The letter in the Beaver mistakan Oakville-based graphic designer enly thought I was my favourite and web designer. artist, Andy Goldsworthy, and that is He said he saw last week's letter to the greatest compliment I've ever the editor in the paper, adding that he received." was surprised people noticed his statRuminski said he is thinking of ues. holding workshops to show people "I'm taken aback by it, because it is how to build the stone statues. something I started as my own hobby," he said. "I didn't think there See More page 38 OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF By Tina Depko RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER ROLLING STONES: Members of the community submitted the bottom two photos after The Oakville Beaver asked for the public's help in finding who created the stone sculptures along the lakefront at the base of Trafalgar Road. The clues led to the revelation that the creator was Eddie Ruminski, shown in the top photo. FLYERS · COUPONS · DEALS View flyers anytime Great deals Print unlimited coupons W PRI IN ZES