Internationally-Collected Canadian First Nations Artist Gifts Masterpiece To The Province of BC
Nov 17, 2009
(News Release) VICTORIA - Bentwood box desk made of reclaimed old growth red cedar sends strong message to current and all future leaders
What do the following have in common? An old growth red cedar tree pulled from a burn pile over 20 years ago, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Premier of British Columbia, one of Canada’s most highly regarded contemporary First Nations artists and a group of British Columbian’s coming together to help tell a story of hope and possibilities for the future. The answer- The Leadership Desk- a gift from artist Arthur Vickers and the people of British Columbia that will greet all current and future local, provincial, national and international leaders in the Premier’s office.
Last week the Leadership Desk, which was designed and created over the past three and a half years by artist and storyteller Arthur Vickers, was welcomed into the world in which it was created for. Premier Gordon Campbell and Prime Minister Stephen Harper were the first of many leaders to come together for a meeting and run their fingers along the warm, reclaimed old growth red cedar masterpiece.
Campbell understands the spirit of commitment that comes with this gift. “As leaders we have an obligation to make the best decisions we possibly can. The spirit of this desk is the spirit of leadership,” he said during the unveiling of the desk at the B.C. Legislature. “This desk is a reminder to all of us about the respect and obligation we have to one another.” The desk left a strong impression on both leaders.
Vickers, who has spent all of his life living in smaller communities throughout BC and the Yukon, currently lives and has a gallery in the seaside village of Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island. He has a deep history of service to society and received the Order of British Columbia in 2008 for his life-long dedication and contributions.
At 62, Vickers is an incredibly alive soul with a heart that quickly warms any room. His dedication to sharing his art and stories with others is only matched by his incredible focus and highly diversified artistic talents.
“I believe it is my purpose in life is to inspire people through the stories of our coast and I endeavor to capture them in my art,” says Vickers. The Leadership Desk was by far the most challenging and meaningful
project Vickers had ever taken on. “The Premier asked me and I was honoured to respectively relay the story of leadership and the power of hope and optimism for the future. It was a positive challenge from day one.”
Three and a half years later, after designing the desk, searching for the reclaimed old growth red cedar wood- which was a journey in itself, spending months listening to and watching the wood to understand just how it was to fit together, to the extreme care that went into the painting of the First Nations’ designs- the Leadership Desk now stands in the Premier’s office of British Columbia where it will greet all leaders for generations to come.
“Arthur Vickers is in the forefront of contemporary Canadian First Nations artists,” says Nick Tuele, a highly regarded certified art appraiser and the past chief curator of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria for over 18 years.
“This stunning desk must surely rank as the artist’s masterpiece at this juncture in his distinguished career. Vickers has created something unique and this gift will resonate through the ages for generations to come.”
Even the Prime Minister agrees. While visiting Victoria recently for the Torch Relay Prime Minister Stephen Harper responded to a question from a local reporter from the Cowichan News Leader saying that, “It’s certainly a beautiful desk.”
The Arthur Vickers Gallery is located in Cowichan Bay, 45 minutes north of
Victoria on Vancouver Island. The gallery is open most days of the year,
but there are no set hours so visitors may call (250) 748-7650 for an
appointment.