PITT MEADOWS, BC – Rising Spirit Eagle is once again standing proudly in Spirit Square after being temporarily removed earlier this fall for repairs and restoration work.
“The Pitt Meadows Eagle has become iconic to the area, and has attracted a lot of interest at various community events over the years. Public art contributes to the cultural fabric of a community and fosters civic pride,” said Mayor Bill Dingwall “However, like any public art piece, it requires ongoing maintenance as well as occasional repair.”
The Eagle, now ten years old, was originally commissioned in 2009 by the Pitt Meadows Lions Club as a fundraiser to help children with disabilities. Linda Nelson, a long-time Pitt Meadows resident and artist was selected for the work. The project took over 200 hours of planning and painting.
The thought behind the piece is in the celebration of the beautiful City that we live. One side of the Eagle, positioned to face north, depicts the northern view of Pitt Meadows, looking past a heron and farms, to Pitt Lake and the Golden Ears Mountains. The other side shows an eastern birds-eye view over spawning salmon in the foreground, a representation of an historic Katzie village, then further up the Fraser River past log booms, to the vista of a sunrise on Mount Baker.
“It was exciting to work on such a large project, and very challenging as well,” said artist Linda Nelson. “A public art piece represents a community initiative. There’s a lot more to it than the artist’s work on display. This important project would not have been possible without the support of many civic leaders and individuals who have the vision to support public art.”
Background Information
This Eagle was initially commissioned in 2009 by the Pitt Meadows Lions Club, with the intent of gaining a permanent public art piece for display in Pitt Meadows. There have been at least three different fiberglass forms in this BC Lions Society series, first Orcas, then Spirit Bears, and in 2008-2009, the eagles, titled Eagles in the City.
Local artist Linda Nelson began by taking many photographs and doing a lot of planning. First, coloured-pencil art drawings were presented to the local Lions Club for approval, depicting iconic Pitt Meadows scenes. The large fiberglass eagle form was delivered to her upstairs home studio space. At 7½ feet tall, it just fit under her 8-foot ceiling!
When the painting was complete, the Eagle was taken to a local auto body repair shop for a protective and anti-graffiti coating.
After being on display in Pitt Meadows Spirit Square for one year, the Eagle was auctioned off for charity.
The City of Pitt Meadows along with other donors successfully purchased Rising Spirit Eagle to ensure it would have a permanent home back in Pitt Meadows Spirit Square. The donors included: The British Columbia Lions Society for Children with Disabilities, The Pitt Meadows Lions Club, The Pitt Meadows Community Foundation, The City of Pitt Meadows, Quadra Homes – Shawn Bouchard, John and Terry Becker, Helen and Doug Bing, Laurie Darcus, Michael Hayes, Iris & Ron Darcus and Linda Kelly.
There are similar eagle displays in many other public locations around the province including one in the Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge.
For more information about this and other art in public places throughout Pitt Meadows, visit pittmeadows.ca/publicart.
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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge,
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca
p. 604.460.6704