James Huziak was a man with a rather unusual hobby. He was a luthier, who lived in Yorkton, for years creating amazing violins.
"That's what he did for a hobby," said son Jim Huziak, likening it to someone collecting stamps. Making violins was something his father simply found relaxation and joy in.
Over the years the number of violins James Huziak created grew, numbering in the dozens by the time he died in 1992.
"Although he did not produce his violins specifically for sale, he was not averse to parting with them if they were going into the hands of talented players," explained his son Jim in a written piece on his father. "Many violinists of varying skills would stop by his workshop where they got to spend an afternoon trying out as many as they liked with no pressure to buy. His asking price of $2000 was beyond the reach of the average amateur violinist in the 70s and 80s, but it helped ensure that his instruments found their way into the hands of serious players."
Most however stayed in the family, simply hanging on the wall of the family home, where rarely were they played.
"You have to play them, or they don't last," explained Jim, adding the builders' three sons occasionally played the violins, but not enough in terms of instruments lovingly made to be played.
"The violins were made to be played. They are not wall hangings," he said.
It was also realized "my mother (Annie) can't live in the house forever," said Jim, which left the question what to do with the violins.
Jim said the family wants to have the violins, and played, but he admitted they are not exactly sure how to achieve that goal.
In the meantime, the story of the violins, which Jim was cataloguing through photographs made its way to Don Stein at the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery in the city.
Jim said Stein was initially interested in a show of the photographs, but he felt that was somewhat boring as each picture was similar. But the idea of a gallery show evolved to simply incorporate the violins themselves.
And so the search was on.
While having nearly 30 violins in-hand, Jim said they have tracked down a few others which were sold, or gifted by their father, so the show will highlight near three-dozen of his father's creations.
The show, which will be at the Gallery until Dec. 6, will kick-off with an opening reception this Saturday (Oct. 4) at 2 p.m.
Jim said his father started creating violins around 1935, or it might have been '38, as memories fade and written records from his father are scarce.
It was in 1947 when he first was able to buy good tools and wood to begin his hobby in earnest.
"By the time of his retirement, he had built about a dozen violins; then, with more time on his hands, he upped the pace to complete one, two and once even three in a year," detailed the history penned by his son.
Jim said his father was always in the shop working on a violin, "except when the 'Price is Right" was on."
It is not surprising James Huziak chose a hobby involving wood and using his hands, since both were integral to his career.
"He started off doing odd jobs," recalled Jim, adding he advanced to doing intricate woodwork, including the altars and iconography in several area churches.
The 30's found him helping his eldest brother Wasyl build numerous area churches, and between 1942 and 1957, he undertook a number of contracts for the finishing of the interiors, including decorative ornamentation, icons and murals. Included was the interior of Our Lady of Assumption Church near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, now preserved as the Kaposvar National Historic Site.
Later he established a small jewellery business in Broadview and then Yorkton, finally working as a finishing carpenter for a local home builder from the early 60's until his retirement in 1971.
While the majority of the wood used in his violins was purchased from professional supply companies, he used every opportunity to source it locally - not by felling a nearby spruce or maple, but by raiding already well-seasoned wood sources. Old threshing machines, and even an old counter from a local hardware store, are currently living a second life as musical instruments.
"He used to buy seasoned spruce for his violin tops, but now he seasons his own wood. It takes two or three years out in the snow, the heat of summer and the rain to season the wood properly, he said," reported a story in The Enterprise circa the mid-1970s.
The Enterprise piece also explained James Huziak's method of creating a violin.
"Mr. Huziak cuts the parts of the violin using a Stradivarius pattern. First he shapes the top and digs it out from the bottom to gauge it. It must be glass smooth both inside and out to give a good tone, he said.
He shapes the sides or ribs over a form, then makes the bottom to fit after gauging. He then glues the bottom to the sides and makes the top. It takes time to varnish a violin, as it must be left at least a week between coats.
Mr. Huziak does the varnishing in summer when it is hot and dry. Care must be taken not to put too much varnish on the instrument as it deadens the tone of the completed violin, he said.
Mr. Huziak buys the finger boards and tail pieces, which are made of ebony and rosewood he also buys.
It takes him about a month to make a good violin, a week of this is required to carve out the scroll. Among his most treasured possessions is a scroll and neck of an original Stradivarius, he said."
James Huziak was also drawn to music, especially that of the violin.
"He played enough to get by," said Jim Huziak, adding his father was talented enough to play for dances in his younger years.
Again The Enterprise story adds insight into James Huziak's love of violin music.
"His dearest wish was to be a trained violinst, but there was just no money for lessons. Though he left home as a young man and had a variety of jobs his keen interest in the violin never wavered
"He said he loves violins so much that when he can't sleep at night he just lays there thinking of violins. He reads anything he can get his hands on pertaining to violins or violin making. He collects violin recordings."
And James made sure all three of his sons took violin lessons.
While the three still occasionally play, none of them have taken up the hobby of luthiers.
"No interest. No skills," said Jim with a smile when asked if he ever considered making a violin. "He (his father) didn't push it on us at all."
"In spite of his early beginnings at country dances, he was especially fond of classical music, with a special admiration for Fritz Kreisler," wrote his son. "Although not a religious man, it was perhaps his many years of painting under the acoustically-rich domes of country churches that was behind his wish to someday hear his violins played there."
That wish, will be realized in October as a string quartet will perform using James Huziak's violins at St. Andrews Church in the city.
In readying the violins for the Gallery show several were refurbished by a member of the Regina Symphony, which in turn led to the idea of a concert.
The Ambiance Music Combo is a multi-musical style eclectic ensemble that includes two violinists (Brian Johnson and his brother David Johnson), double bass (Cassandra Loustel), and the mellow percussion keyboard instrument marimba (Brian's wife Lisa Simmermon). All the musicians in the Combo are members of the Regina Symphony Orchestra.
"Brian composes original pieces for this unique group, a number of which were featured on Brian's CD "Songs Without Words." He arranges all the other music for the group which includes jazz, classical, pop, gypsy and country music - they play music to suit all tastes," detailed a group bio.
"Brian Johnson is a gold-medal Bachelor of Music graduate of the University of Regina, originally from Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. During his studies, he performed with the Regina Symphony Orchestra, and in 1983 became a member of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Since 1987, Brian has been Principle Second Violin with the Regina Symphony Orchestra, and has taught violin at the Regina Conservatory of Performing Arts, for the Regina Board of Education and was a teacher and conductor for the Moose Jaw Youth String Orchestra."
