Stands Tall Creations Woodcarving Studio and Gallery

 EMBRACING THE SPIRIT OF THE FLAME

In February of 2010 Shane Tweten and Simon Daniel James began work on a sculpture, paid for by the Canadian Heritage Association and commissioned by the Bowen Island Chamber of Commerce. The statue was to commemorate the spirit that the Olympic torch brought with it when it passed through Bowen Island. Through the sculpture Simon and Shane saw this as an opportunity to showcase the spirit in which a diverse community can exist as one through struggle and compromise. This artwork entwined two separate cultures on a single piece of art and through synergy has become a symbol of an embracing attitude we feel towards others. Though struggling to coexist in one place the characters accommodate one another in a blending of balance and harmony creating beauty in itself.

The dragon laced with Celtic knot work signifies Shane’s Norwegian and Celtic Heritage and Simon has blended the traditional teachings of the Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw with a contemporary form line and overall design. This blending of the Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw Sisiult and the Celtic Dragon is unique and stands alone in pioneering  the unexplored regions of blending arts from culture, from two separate artists. The two wood carving and painting styles differentiate from one another yet compliment each other in mix of texture and brush stroke

“We were honored and privileged as artists and Bowen Islanders to have had the opportunity to be able to create a public art installation that will last generations and beautify Bowen Island. We both have a deep emotional attachment to Bowen and the people who live here and feel excited to be able to give something back to the people and to Bowen Island.”

Since putting money back into your local economy is important, we used all Bowen Island businesses and services to make this a true “Bowen Island” made sculpture.

We’d like to thank all the people and businesses who contributed and donated their time, services and products, and really, we couldn’t have done it without you!

 The Cedar Stories Panel Project was a collaboration of efforts between myself (Shane Tweten), Winadzi James, and all the children from kindergarten to grade 5. In Febuary 2011 we first talked with the kids about ideas and images that we could put on the carving. Then over the course of four weeks, every Friday we would carve with the kids. Winadzi and I took the panels back to the studio for a final paint job and later revealed them to the kids.

 The Spectator

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.

Bowen Island Community School

Tyler Wallace

Bowen Island personality, Tyler Wallce  shares his passion and artwork in this brief video, made by BowenTV's George Zawadzki. Tyler's watercolors are truly amazing and capture that perfect "Bowen Moment".