National Tribute Auction

Artist Statement The helmet Bill created incorporates four of the regiments that served in the Korean war: The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR), Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), the Royal 22nd Regiment, nick-named the Van-doos (anglicized version of the short form ‘Vent-deux’) and The Black Watch, a regiment with Scottish origins. These make up the 25th Brigade. Artist Bio Bill was born, William Alfred Redfern on June 19th, 1928 to Solomon and Leticia Redfern. He is father to three children, Mary-Lou, Catherine and Jim and was married 62 years to his late wife Mary. Bill served in the Korean war (1950-1953) with the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) as a L. corporal. Upon his return home, Bill worked in industrial sales for the next 20 years in the southern western Ontario region. Bill arrived to Sunnybrook’s Veteran’s unit in 2022. Believing that he wasn’t fit for “arts and such” due to discouraging school experiences and being red/green colour blind, Bill declined art therapy for his first year. Eventually, he agreed to explore art, beginning with painting and later moving into ceramics, which has become his medium, almost exclusively. “It just amazing how the hunk of nothing can become something incredible”, said Redfern one afternoon in the studio.