Wayne Robert ADAMS

Wayne Adams, the middle son of 3 boys, was born to Harriet Maud and Alvin Clarence Adams at 11:45 pm on Sunday April 25th, 1948 in The Royal Alexander Hospital in North Edmonton, Alberta. Wayne’s Mom and Dad met during WW11 and married in Thorny England July 14th, 1945 after the war was over and after they had both served as soldiers. Wayne was proud of them for their service and especially liked telling stories of his Mom being an anti air craft gunner during the blitz. 

When Wayne was 7 years old his father became very ill with ulcers. Encouraged by his doctor to move to a warmer climate for his healths sake, he gathered up his family and moved them all to Nunawading Australia outside of Melbourne. Wayne’s time there impacted him greatly. He spent as much time as he could out in nature collecting birds eggs, bringing home pet lizards and on occasion killing deadly poisonous snakes. At age 8 he built his first building(a chicken coop) after his father gave him the boards for helping him pull nails out of them. Wayne also became a Boy Scout in Australia . Included in his rigorous training as a scout was 3 days alone in the wilderness. The valuable survival skills he learned at that time prepared him well for his future in Freedom Cove.

At age 13, Wayne and his family returned to Edmonton where he completed his schooling while doing many jobs out of school hours. He often said that he did over 40 jobs in his life leading up to his 31 years in Freedom Cove. He did everything from washing floors, to working as an Elephant keeper at Al Oeming’s game farm in Alberta. Post high school Education took Wayne to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) where he studied biological sciences thinking that he would become a veterinary assistant. Instead he found himself moving to Victoria, British Columbia where he received a job as a forestry ranger technician and became a father to his daughter Shauna Mae Adams born July 20th 1970 and to his son Shane Mark Adams born February 28th 1972. Being away from his family for 1 to 2 week stints while testing for insect infestations was part of his forestry job. To occupy his evenings away he decided to try his hand at carving cedar. He kept his very first carving so he could show people how bad he was at it initially  in hopes of encouraging them that anyone can carve if they just put their minds heart ,hands  and time into it. Over the years he has shown many how to carve always light heartedly saying “I will show you everything I know in 7 minutes.”

As Wayne continued to evolve his carving skills he began to work in  sperm whale teeth . Initially he scrimshanded the teeth and then began carving them. Practice makes perfect as they say and by age 34 Wayne had evolved to creating exquisite works of art. His passion for what he was doing pushed him to leave forestry and become a full time artist. He embarked on a huge creative project to carve a whale and squid in combat in a properly papered elephant tusk purchased from Jamie Bray. This piece named Cachalot took 4 years (1982-1986)to complete. Also in 1986 Wayne’s hummingbird carving Sweet Nectar was selected to be on display in Prince George for Expo 86. In 1988 Cachalot was displayed in the Victoria museum in an Art Show called Profiles of a Heritage that showcased selected wild life artists from British Columbia.

In 1987, Wayne met Catherine King. Their coming together as a couple  led him to meet Ken Thomson a Canadian billionaire who collected ivory carvings.  Catherine’s art agent friend Janet Croken introduced Ken Thomson to Wayne’s work. Subsequently Ken bought over 80 of Wayne’s carvings and that collection of work resides in the Ontario Art Gallery in Toronto yet to be displayed.

In 1990, Wayne and Catherine moved to Tofino after a 9 month trip around North America in a small RV prompted from having to deliver 10 years worth of Waynes work sold to Ken Thomson. During this trip while visiting Catherine’s relatives in Newfoundland Wayne also sold  a beautiful piece called The Last Salmon to Andrew Crosby a Newfoundland Millionaire. When Andrew Crosby died his widow sold it to Ken Thomson so it is now part of his collection. Wayne continued carving beautiful works of art up until his last month of life even managing to complete work that was displayed in The Carvers On The Edge Festival last September. He carved over 5,000 pieces in his life time.

In 1992 Wayne and Catherine having the common dream to live out in nature began their life in Freedom Cove. As they evolved their life there their floating world built from recycled materials emerged through Wayne’s genius, natural engineering abilities ,building skills and creativity. In his Freedom Cove project Wayne truly created living art that over the years has transformed through the force of nature breaking down the old to make way for the new. For the last 24 years Freedom Cove has been recognized for its artistic beauty and environmental sustainability around the planet in multiple articles and photographs and over 30 films. Today Freedom Cove has existed for 31 years and will continue to carry on with his heart and soul contained there. Wayne lives on through all he has created and through the love of his family and friends.  He is survived by his wife Catherine King; daughter, Shauna Adams; son, Shane Adams; son in law, Emilio Iznaga Perez: granddaughter, Tuva Englund and grandson, Ruben Englund .

On April 25th Wayne’s birthday and Anniversary of his marriage to Catherine, a Celebration of Life was held in his honour in Freedom Cove.