Pawel Dumka was born in 1955 in Lodz, Poland. Since elementary school he showed a deep interest in drawing and sketching. He would often be found drawing in class instead of taking notes from the board and from the teacher. In his later years, instead of attending Art School to pursue his passion and natural talent, he chose Trade School where he became an electrician.

In 1985, he immigrated to Canada and found his new place of residence in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Woodcarving was one of his main hobbies where he carved many reliefs as gifts for his friends. These pieces of art were inspired by Polish Folk Art.

In 2000, he was commissioned by Rev. Richard Philiposki and the Parish Council of St. Anthony in Dartmouth, to make a life size Crucifix for the altar of this church. The cross was made from pine and the figure of Christ was carved in Basswood and later painted.

In 2002, he was commissioned by the Parish Council of Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel on the Shearwater Air Base and Rev. John Tracey, to design and carve the Stations of the Cross. These reliefs were carved in Basswood and were also inspired by Polish Folk Art.

His next piece of work was yet another life size Crucifix for John XXIII Church in Cole Harbour. It was ordered in 2003 by the Knights of Colombus. While St. Anthony’s figure of Christ was in the standing form where Jesus is resting, the image of Jesus made for John XXIII, was in the form of a hanging Christ where His entire body is nailed to the cross.

In 2004, he carved a copy of the XIV century sculpture representing Mary and Child. She is called Matka Boska Sianowska – The Queen Mother of the Kashubs. The original statue can be found in Sianowo, Poland. The replica was commissioned by Rev. Richard Philiposki and can be found in St. Mary’s Church in Wilno Ontario (Canada’s first Polish settlement).

Pawel is a person who is full of life and a sense of humor with an endless supply of jokes; always singing and dancing with a unique ability to skip stones on water. He has an unusually wide variety of interests and hobbies. In 1989, the Polish soccer team he played for, won a silver medal in the N.S. Challenge Cup. He was also the President of the Polish Apostolate and the Vice- President of the Board of Directors of Pomorze Polish Folkdance Ensemble, where he is also a current member himself.

Today, Pawel continues to reside in Halifax where he finds time to keep pursuing his passion and talent for both drawing, woodcarving along with his other interests.

Contact Pawel at: pawel@nsspa.ca

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