“Freeze”

So it’s a question of sharing, that wonderful word. So I am sharing with the viewer experiences I have had and I would like you to, not so much appreciate them, but to acquire some greater awareness of things you were not in contact with. Thank heavens most people don’t know what war is, at least not today. So this is all part of what we should know. And if we can acquire even a small emotional contact with it then we have learned from it. And this is what a painting can do that. A painting can do that. Interviewer: If I can now focus your attention on what is behind you, it’s called one of your inspirations for the artwork “Freeze.” And if you can help us understand what it is, what as Canadians we should be seeing through the art. As I mentioned earlier it was a night time war so when we crossed the valley, so-called, “No Man’s Land” literally no man could live there, we would leave our own position with a task set out before us. Maybe it was to simply set up an ambush to go into the valley and lay down alongside the rice paddy paths. We would literally lay down in the water and knowing the path that the Chinese might be taking to come and invade our territory and we could shoot them as they came through. That would be an ambush or it may simply be listening to make sure to pass on information via radio if we heard some Chinese moving towards us. Or maybe on a killing patrol to go up the Chinese position and shoot as much and make as much noise as we could and then get the hell out. We would proceed that with mortar fire on them and artillery sometimes. Intelligence patrols sometimes to try and capture a Chinese prisoner for intelligence purposes. Well this particular painting depicts something we all feared and we expected it though. You are crossing “No Man’s Land” and a bloody flare goes up. That’s a mortar! Up goes this thing and it explodes and out pops a parachute, magnesium is burning, it’s very bright. And this parachute that lasts a minute and a half I suppose as its coming down. Well the Chinese are watching closely to see where you are, this great flare. It’s a bit blinding. Well the term freeze which was applied at that time had to do with the fact that you were instructed to stand dead still because as the flare came down your shadow would move back and forth. And if you moved to try to hide yourself you would be in contradiction to that motion or something. But what we do today, of course, wisely is we hit the ground as fast as possible. But in this particular painting the leader has got his hand out indicating and it’s called freeze, stand dead still as the parachute flare comes down but in all honesty as the parachute came down so did we. We slowly, we couldn’t, it was impossible to not do it. We slowly sank so by the time the parachute landed we were on our knees anyway type of thing. But that’s a typical experience on patrol duty. It’s called, “Freeze!” This was going on every night. I guess what really makes me feel happy is that my fellow Veterans, it’s their, it speaks for them, not just me. Big deal, so I painted the bloody thing but it’s what it represents. It represents what those 26,000 Canadians went through. So I feel it’s wonderful to be recognized even if it is late. It’s a long time 65 years but it is wonderful to be recognized!

In recognition of the 65th Anniversary of the Korean War, Mr. Zuber shares his inspiration for the artwork “Freeze” and pride he has for it being recognized.

Edward "Ted" Zuber

Mr. Edward “Ted” Zuber was born October 16, 1932 in Montreal, Quebec. As a child, he was born with the gift of painting. Although not enthralled with school, Mr. Zuber did graduate and then went on to Queens University (Fine Arts). When the Korean War broke out in 1950, he was adamant to enlist and serve his country. He became a parachutist with the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment. Arriving in Korea in 1952, he took on the role of sniper spending much of his time on the front lines. During this time, Mr. Zuber produced many drawings and, upon returning to Canada, presented thirteen of his canvas collections to the Canadian War Museum. Presently known as the unofficial war artist for Korea, Mr. Zuber’s paintings have become very popular. His painting “Freeze” has been unveiled in honour of the 65th Anniversary of the Korean War. Mr. Zuber has great pride in his service during the Korean War and is honoured to have been recognized for his artwork. Present day, Mr. Zuber finds himself in his studio continuing to paint the images of his wartime experiences, images that never seem to go away. Mr. Zuber resides in Kingston, Ontario with his wife and family.