The Jade Canoe @ YVR
Name: The Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe Artist: Bill Reid, Haida, 1994
Bronze cast with jade green patina, second of two castings, 1994
6.05 m long (19’10’’), 3.89 m high (12’9’’), 3.48 m wide (11’5’’)
The Spirit of Haida Gwaii @ YVR
From the stool at Starbucks
the Jade Canoe
commands attention.
Native dugout full
ancient power
Thirteen Creatures crowd
the heavy craft, going
somewhere
Wolf claw in Beaver's back
teeth clenched on Eagle's wing
beak sunk in Grizzly's paw
Stay still soft Frog;
Eagle hasn't seen you yet.
Grizzly protects the family -
back turned against wind and future.
Do you shiver at the past you can see
or the future you cannot?
Mouse Woman,
your skinny fingers
curl against the deck.
Now you must trust
the ones you tricked.
If you slip, who will notice
your tiny splash?
Reluctant Paddler plays his part -
Pretends his lonely stroke guides the boat.
Human, look where you are.
Raven,
four tail feathers
spread across the stern
one claw on the rudder.
With you steering
we could end up anywhere.
Your flight is being called.
copyright 2011 Allison Rennie
self published
Bill Reid's sculpture is installed in the Vancouver International Airport Termainal. For more information: www.yvr.ca/en/about/art-architecture/