Alumnus David James ’68 has been honoured with a Trent University Distinguished Alumni Award for his award-winning contribution to North American arts and culture.

Based out of his studio in Sutton, QC, Mr. James is a celebrated Canadian sculptor, former journalist and former management consultant. Through his artwork, Mr. James creates luminous sculptures cast in glass and bold exterior works carved in stone that often incorporate stainless steel. His sculptures have received international recognition and garnered a number of important awards, including the 2004 New York City Museum of Arts & Design Award and designation of Outstanding Significance and National Importance of his work by the Canadian Department of Heritage.

Mr. James’ work has appeared in countless galleries and collections, drawing the attention of numerous publications. They are included in Best of Worldwide Glass Artists Volume 1, 500 Glass Objects, A Celebration of Functional and Sculptural Glass (2006) and The Contemporary Glass Art of the World (2004), the first Chinese survey of international art glass.

Mr. James and his wife, Lili de Grandpré, have been exceptionally generous donors to Trent University. Gifts have included two companion sculptures to the Trent University Art Collection: Portal is made up of an 8,000 pound granite piece on the slope outside Gzowski College and a smaller, though no less dramatic, amber lead crystal sculpture that resides in Bata Library.

Mr. James’ positive experience working with Trent on these gifts gave rise to his vision of the Public Sculpture Initiative at the University. Since 2012, Mr. James has been a passionate volunteer for the project.

He has also been an active volunteer for numerous other organizations, including the Ontario Crafts Council, Glass Art Association of Canada and the Glass Art Society of the United States.

The award was delivered during a Public Sculpture Initiative event on Symons Campus, where renowned artist and sculptor Claude Millette revealed his donated piece, Corphéum XIII, in the Otonabee College gardens.