mural 27

4.57M x 4.57M (15’ x 15’), LAUREL STREET

the spirit of chemainus

Painted in 1991
by Dan Sawatzky assisted by Peter Sawatzky,
Chemainus (now residing in Chilliwack, BC)

The Artist

As the youngest mural artist to participate in bringing the history of Chemainus to life, Peter Sawatzky was just fifteen when he assisted on his first mural in 1991. He has shown a keen interest in many media, especially painting and sculpture. Because of his special talents and dedication to art, Sawatzky helped to create for himself a unique course of studies in three-dimensional design for his last two years of high school.

Sawatzky looks forward to making art a career, and is well on his way towards doing so. He has assisted his father on mural projects all over Canada and the United States, and has travelled to Europe and Japan to study and appreciate art and culture. He anticipates further art education as well as plenty of practical experience following his graduation from high school.
Dan Sawatzky Sawatzky's Imagination Corporation
42392 Yarrow Central Road
Chilliwack, B.C. V2R 5E2

The Art

Hints of the pristine coast line, heavily treed and dripping green, peep out from behind a glimmering impressionistic image of the brigantine Spirit of Chemainus. The suggestion of activity on the deck, with five faceless figures, symbolizes an earlier time when such vessels were commonly seen in Chemainus Bay, and indeed all along the coast of British Columbia.

This sailing ship was built and launched in Chemainus in 1985 as an offshoot of, and a tribute to, the original Chemainus Festival of Murals. Constructed by master shipwrights, the fine lines and textured surfaces of the ship are captured in the muted colours of the painting.
Next Mural >