Harrison Duncan, a law program graduate, decides to devote his life to art. Originally from Toronto, Duncan was drawn to Ottawa from his interest in Carleton University and getting away from home. He changed majors, going from human rights to political science, and finally settled on law. “I don’t plan to use my undergrad,” Duncan affirms, “but it helps me understand how society works.”

Throughout university, he never knew what he wanted to do, but knew that was not it. He knew he had a passion for arts, but never knew how to make it his priority.

After completing his undergrad, Duncan was working for another student at a little café named Alpha Soul in Hintonburg. Over time, these two grew very close, and did everything together. So, when she decided to shut down the café and head to art school, he followed.

“We were very successful but it was a lot. And she wanted to go and pursue her passion, and her and I were very close together, and she had registered as one of the diploma students at the School of Art. We were both kind of crazy and very very into the arts. We always had art hanging on the walls and we’d critique everything. So on a whim I just applied and everything worked out perfectly and I’m so happy to be here. It’s a wonderful place.”

Now a second year in the Ottawa School of Art’s diploma program, Harrison Duncan is one of the main sculptors, taught by David Clendining, the mastermind behind Ottawa’s famous Animal War Memorial in Confederation Park, and the scale models of the city found around the downtown area. “I am primarily into sculpting, but since painting is such a big thing in Ottawa, I ended up doing a lot of that, too.”

Duncan, being used to Toronto’s non-stop atmosphere, still finds it hard to get used to Ottawa’s small community. “I’m used to everything being at reach when I need it. But here, most stores close at six on Sundays. It’s a little frustrating, but as long as I’m at the School of Art, I’m happy here.”

Currently, Duncan spends his days watching over Ottawa’s famous Winterlude festival sculptures as they are being built, and is working on his very own project to give to one of his dearest friends: a sculpture of a friendly dog, who’s eyes tell almost as big of a story as his.

Author:  Sylvie Bouffard