Wall Art Mural # 1
8.1M X 3M (27’ X 10’), WILLOW STREET
Steam Donkey
Painted in 1982 by Frank Lewis and Nancy Lagana,
Victoria, B.C.
The Artist
Originally from Victoria, B.C., Frank Lewis’ career took him eastward in the late 1950’s. Soon he was winning acclaim for his work as a professional illustrator, with awards from both Toronto and Montreal. In 1963, his work was placed in the prestigious New York Society of Illustrators Show.
Back on the West Coast in the late 1960’s, the style of Lewis’ painting began to change and evolve on a larger scale, beginning with the decoration of a construction fence at the Vancouver Court House. Soon to come were mural paintings for tourism projects, as well as commissioned works for Daon Corporation, the Carnegie Library, the Westerly Hotel, and other clients.
As Lewis’ assistant, Nancy Lagana brought with her an impressive academic art background. She has an Honours B.A. from Harvard University, and studied ceramics and sculpture at the Vancouver School of Art.
The Art
For the steam donkey and its crew, hauling a log from the forest was an obstacle course of the worst kind, fighting rocks, gullies, and stumps every inch of the way.
“Charlie”, the line horse waits patiently in the background, ready to pull the 20mm cable to the next felled log.
The steam donkey was invented by John Dolbeer in 1882. This particular one was built by Murray Bros, in San Francisco and started work for the Victoria Lumber & Manufacturing Company in Chemainus in 1885. The painting is based on a photograph from 1902. The man controlling the lever on the steam donkey is Herbert M. Olsen, who was later to become prominent in world-wide lumbering ventures.
Now restored, the Dolbeer steam donkey has been retired to the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre in the Cowichan Valley.