Athletes playing on the turf field will always have someone looking over them.
On June 1, three new works of art were celebrated, honoured and unveiled at Bowen Island Community School including "The Spectator," a large eagle sculpture near the turf field that was carved from one of the cedar trees removed during the field installation in 2008.
This public artwork was conceived and commissioned by Stacy Beamer. The creation of the work, its base, and the installation were funded by the Beamer-Isaak family.
Shane Tweten, who is trained in Celtic and native carving, volunteered much of his time and energy to carve the eagle at the top of the sky-high pole. This watchful carving represents a healing peace between the land and the cedar trees that were removed in order to create the turf field. It will remain as an enduring symbol of creativity and vision in the community.
The Spirit of BICS eagle panel, carved by Grade 6 and 7 students with artist Gerald Morrisseau, was also unveiled in the upper foyer of BICS as part of the cedar panel project celebration. The Spirit of Bowen-Winterfest Stories and The Raven Brings the Light to BICS panels were carved by the K-4 classes with Tweten and Winadzi James. They were unveiled in the school's primary wing. These two panels came together as one piece, to tell one story, joining Celtic and First Nations traditions.
Chief Janice George, hereditary chief Lonnie Hindle, Bob Baker and Spakwus Slulem, the Eagle Song Dancers, also assisted with the celebration and traditional blessing ceremony.
