I cannot explain the magnitude of Ken Dryden’s impact on me throughout my life. He is unlike any other hockey player, any other public figure I have ever seen.

 

From my earliest memories, Dryden intrigued me both through his play and his intellect. His sheer size and athleticism helped carry the Habs to 6 Stanley Cups in 8 years. But it was his elegance and intellectualism off the ice that struck me the most. He was equally adored and appreciated by my dad, Jim. In fact, Dryden’s book, The Game, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2023, is the only book my dad ever gave me.  

 

Early in 2021, I received a call from Ken. It had been set up through a mutual friend who knew my work and thought Ken and I would be a good match. That discussion and the many others that followed led to these two paintings. I cannot thank Ken enough.

 

Since finishing the pieces, I have witnessed the impact on those who have seen the paintings in person. The emotional reactions have varied from tears of joy, to bursts of memories. The masks - one that we see from the outside, the other the view Ken has from inside -  seem to offer a sensory connection to other times, to people and places we have not thought of in a long time, to “everyday” moments and some that were larger than life. And in a deeply cathartic way it revealed why Dryden and his book meant so much to me and my dad.

 

I hope the pieces spark reflection and conversation on how we see ourselves and each other. And perhaps help us remember a less complicated time in life, maybe even let us unclutter our future. A collision of history and hope. Unencumbered by the weight and hardships that come with adulthood and the realities we are in today.