Between 2005 and 2009, the B.C. Lions Society for Children with Disabilities, in support of the Easter Seal Services, and Canucks for Kids Fund, created two public art projects, “Spirit Bears in the City”, and “Eagles in the City”. Corporations sponsored sculptures to be painted by artists.
In heavy winter rain, a 7 foot high 150 lb fibreglass Spirit Bear, sponsored by Alcan was ferried across Thornborough Channel, up a steep ramp on Gambier Island, and pushed and pulled by my neighbours up a fern and huckleberry covered hill to my studio, to become “Spirit Friend”
A second bear, sponsored by Telus, became “Jeanie, Whistler Spirit Bear”. The real Jeannie was the mother of many cubs studied by Michael Allen, bear researcher.
Installed in B.C. cities for a year, the bears were gathered together and auctioned at a gala in Vancouver, raising funds for Children with Disabilities.
In 2009 two eagle sculptures 7.5 ft. high arrived to become, “Heavenly Energy, Night and Day”, about weather, and “Salmon Make Eagles Fly”, as salmon is an important food for eagles.