Leafy Orcas

Surfing the crest of a grassy aquamarine wave, these two Orcas, mother and calf, are swimming on the corner of Government and Humboldt Streets by the Empress Hotel.

West Bay Walkway 3

This small balancing rock sculpture has been erected recently and, though I generally prefer my nature unmodified, I quite like it. It looks like a good wind would blow it over but that delicacy is part of its charm.

The Homecoming

There is a small open space overlooking Ship Point that is dedicated to the Navy and this statue, The Homecoming, is its centerpiece.It depicts that magical moment when the sailor comes home from the sea to the loving arms of his family. It's a statue that strikes a chord in most passersby, even those of us who have never been in the navy. We all know what it is like to be separated from those we love and the joy of reunion. The sculptor is Nathan Scott.

The Gatekeeper

Here's another of the sculptures that are on display in Oak Bay as part of the Arts Alive program. This striking piece is entitled "The Gatekeeper" and is by sculptor David Hunwick.

Linda Lindsay

Here are two more sculptures from last weekend's Sculpture Splash in Esquimalt. Those of you who visit this blog often will know that I spent many years in Africa and when I saw these sculptures I was completely blown away. The sculptor, Linda Lindsay, has perfectly captured the spirit of Africa in these works, a remarkable achievement. When I was able to chat with the artist a bit I was surprised to learn that while she has visited Africa, she has not lived there for any extended period of time. I had assumed that such deep insight as her sculptures manifest could only come from lengthy exposure to African culture. She has seen more in her visits than many people who have lived there for years. You can see some of her other work on her website, LindaLindsaySculpture.com.

Sculpture Splash

This remarkable sculpture is just one of many on display this weekend at Buxton Green in Esquimalt. The event is called the Sculpture Splash and gives local sculptors an opportunity to show their work in a spectacular scenic setting. I went yesterday and was impressed at the variety and obvious professionalism of the works displayed. I'm going back today to take a closer look and also to collect the name of the artist who created the stunning sculpture pictured above.

Frosty Monk

This little Buddhist monk fell asleep in our back garden during the long hot drowsy summer. He doesn't look quite so comfortable now with his little moss garden covered with frost. I think I'll just let him sleep until spring.

Purple Martin

The lovely sculpture above is located on the eastern shore of the Gorge where it widens to form the Selkirk Waters. It's called "The Purple Martin". I didn't see any of the birds themselves while I was there but there are nest boxes along the walkway that suggest some are resident. Purple Martins are migratory and I don't know if they have returned yet this year.

Family Group - Jack Harman

Here's another sculpture I have just noticed though it was installed some years ago. It is called "Family Group" and is by sculptor Jack Harman, a Canadian who lived and taught in British Columbia for much of his life. The more I looked at this sculpture the more I liked it. Though it must be heavy since it is bronze, as you walk around it it seems to float above its pedestal. The Royal BC Museum and the Provincial Archives share grounds and this sculpture is just behind the archives on a walkway that leads through to the museum. There is a brief write-up on Jack Harman HERE.

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I take this opportunity to wish all visitors to this site A Very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

Abkhazi Garden

I spent Saturday morning enjoying the Oak Bay Tea Party Parade then I rode over to the tranquility of the Abkhazi Garden for lunch and a stroll. It's a lush garden that currently is hosting a number of wooden sculptures by Michael Dennis from a collection called "The Muses". One of these striking sculptures is pictured on the left.

Year 7 Begins

As we start a new year on Victoria Daily Photo I thought I would post a photo that reminisces the first photo I published on this blog back in 2008 - a photo of my shadow on the trunk of one of the Gary Oak trees that are so characterstic of this city. Above is a photo of myself taken just prior to my recent departure for Maui. I am reflected in the eye of one of the figures that make up Bill Reid's incredible sculpture, The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, The Jade Canoe. It's an extraordinary work, magnificent and unique, and if you're ever in Vancouver International Airport, don't miss the chance to see it. That would be like passing through Rome and not bothering to look at the Sistine Chapel. Below is a photo of the whole sculpture. I chose a photo that happens to have a child in it to indicate the monumental scale of this work.

The Hands of Time 4 - Carrying Point Blankets

Here's the final instance of The Hands of Time sculpture series, a dozen small sculptures by Crystal Przybille that depict life-size hands engaged in activities symbolic of Victoria's past. The hands above are carrying Point Blankets, a kind of blanket that was much treasured by indigenous peoples when the Hudson's Bay Company first began to trade on this coast. The placement of this particular sculpture is very fitting; it is located on The Hudson, a building that formerly was occupied by the Hudson Bay Company store, the retail descendant of the trading giant that brought these blankets to this coast. The sculpture is on one side of the entrance to what has just opened as Victoria's new public market on the ground floor of this building. We'll have a look inside the market next week. Click The Hands of Time if you want to see all twelve of these small sculptures.

The Hands of Time 5 - Carrying Books

In the upper right hand corner of the above photo you will see another of the small sculptures from the series, "The Hands of Time", this one entitled "Carrying Books". It is located just outside the side entrance to the Victoria City Hall. "The sculptural books symbolize education and governance in the Capital City of British Columbia." The sculpture series is the work of sculptor Crystal Przybille.

The Hands of Time 10 - I Am Here

This beautifully executed small sculpture mysteriously appeared set into the wall of the Inner Harbour Causeway recently. It is just life size and attached to the wall at eye level so that the mirror reflects the viewers image. It appears to be cast in bronze. I don't know who is responsible but this is very nice.

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Later: Thanks to visitor Mike Laplante's comment I now know the artist is Crystal Przybille and the work is one of a series of twelve called The Hands of Time. This information and more from an article in the Victoria Times Colonist. And more information can be found on the city's website, victoria.ca.

Toronto Pearson International Airport

Airports are not usually places where one chooses to spend much time. Nevertheless, anyone who travels much ends up spending hours in these vast echoing buildings that, though they are all designed for the same purposes, manage to express distinct characters. Much of that distinctness comes from the public art that occupies some of the floor space. Above, for this week's "Somewhere Saturday", is an example from Toronto's Pearson International Airport. It's an interesting piece in that it affects the ambient sound as one walks through the spaces it creates. Compare this with Vancouver and Beijing International Airports' art.

"Four Winds" by Chris Johnson aka Ice Bear

This amazing sculpture is located at the bottom of Swift Street, quite close to Canoe Brew Pub. It is one of those pieces that while made of heavy, dense materials has such an incredible sense of fluidity and motion. - Fern

Mermaid Wharf

This sculpture is located on the seaward side of the Mermaid Wharf apartment building, overlooking the Upper Harbor. I suspect because of its location it is meant to suggest wind and waves and... well, gosh, what can I say? It's an interesting piece of work.

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A couple of people have given me an award and have my thanks for this honor. I haven't quite figured out how I will respond so, in day or two....