Title

Spirit of Burnaby

Artist

Gerry Sheena

Date

2021

Medium

wood

Type

sculpture

Dimensions

259.0 height x 56.0 width x 48.0 depth

Owner

City of Burnaby

Accession Number

PA2023.1

Location

Burnaby City Hall

Category

City of Burnaby Public Art Collection

Collection

Public Art

Lat/Long

49.243311,-122.972708

View in Google Maps

http://www.google.com/maps?q=49.243311,-122.972708

The Spirit of Burnaby was commissioned by Burnaby citizen William McCarthy to honour his hometown and the ancestral and unceded territories of the h n q min m and Skwxwú7mesh speaking peoples. The carving is created from a 400-year old red cedar tree from Bella Bella, BC, harvested by the Heiltsuk First Nation. The main figures of the carving include Bear supporting Thunderbird, as well as smaller representations of Frog, Hummingbird and Salmon. The Talking Stick, or speaker’s staff, is held by the Bear and topped by the Eagle. These representations speak to shared leadership, wisdom, harmony and respect for all.

Gerry Sheena is a member of the Interior Salish Nation and has been carving since 1990. His carving style combines traditional Salish approach with contemporary influences. He attended Emily Carr University of Art + Design as well as Langara College.