A blessing ceremony for a new piece of artwork took place at the Cultural Corner on Sunday as part of Bowen’s National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations.
The ceremony was held to recognize the debut of a new carving at the site, by local artist Simon Daniel James. Titled ‘Eagle Descending’, the sculpture which James, also known as Winadzi, created for the space now hangs at the new community stage outside the Bowen Island Public Library and Hearth Gallery for all of Nex̱wlélex̱wm (Bowen Island) to enjoy.
The blessing was performed by S7aplek and Spakwus Slolem (Bob Baker and the Squamish Eagle Song Dancers) of Squamish Nation.
The new Cultural Corner is now in full swing, including hosting a concert the day before and other events earlier this summer. The covered space is managed by the Public Library and Hearth Gallery, and in addition to music performances will also be a home for artistic, literary, and cultural events.
Along with the stage, the project also includes outdoor seating, a redone landscaping, and a small park space. The area was completed in May following months of work on the project, including significant contributions by Tina Nielsen, Jami Scheffer, Jennifer Streckmann, Tectonic Architecture, Tourand Engineering, the Bowen Island Municipality, and the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program.
