spirit of the earth

 11' x 3' x 3', CHEMAINUS ROAD & VICTORIA STREET

Designed and carved in 1999 by Daniel Cline, Chemainus, BC
Assisted by Ted Speirs and Marcus Carter

The Artist

Born in St. Catherines, Ontario, Daniel's interest in sculpture began at an early age, creating figures of fantasy in clay. Primarily self-taught, he uses a variety of materials including Vancouver Island marble, exotic alabasters of the southwest, and Brazilian and African soapstone. Having moved to Vancouver Island in 1990, Daniel is continually made aware of the beauty of the natural world; whales, dolphins, bears, eagles, and fish are often the subjects of his sculpture, expressing his respect for the wonders of creation.
 

The Art

“The process of time travel, from primeval sea bed, to the hand and spirit of a creative being is a difficult and long one. To wrestle an image from an ancient rock, to reveal a dream in stone, is a sculptor's passion.”

The marble sculpture represents a mystic native princess, her robe adorned with the wildlife of Vancouver Island. An Orca dives from her hair, an Eagle soars interconnected with a Salmon leaping upwards. The upper half of the sculpture depicts the quiet calm of the earth, while the lower portion depicts the world in action. The Princess represents the Earth, the lifegiver, the source of our livelihood. She is stone-marble, transcending thousands of years of pressure and heat, to be transformed again. Next Page >.