Arrival of the "Reindeer" in Horseshoe Bay
Painted in 1983 by Sandy Clark and Lea Goward, Victoria BC
7.7m x 4.6m (25' x 13'), Mill Street
 
 
 

The Artists
Though born and raised in Ontario, Sandy Clark's artistic inspiration is largely drawn from the particular moods and atmosphere of the sea. More than fifteen years ago, Clark came west from Toronto, bringing with her a superb understanding of the intricacies of water- borne vessels, as well as an innate ability to interpret people and their distinct expressions.

Clark paints in oil and watercolour to create impressions of individuals she has met and of moments of peace experienced on ocean shores. She has exhibited in British Columbia, the United States, and Australia.

While attending the University of Victoria, Lea Goward experienced large scale painting first hand in a ‘theatre-in-education' program. She put her new knowledge to work as Sandy Clark's assistant for the painting of Arrival of the "Reindeer" in Horseshoe Bay. Goward, a native of Kamloops, BC., now works in pastels, watercolour, and conte.

The Art
A luminescent cedar bark cloak envelops the figure of a native princess as she contemplates the arrival of the sloop "HMS Reindeer". The ship's commander, Captain A. E. Kennedy, was an acquaintance of Isabel and Thomas George Askew, pioneers of Chemainus and mill owners for many years. The "Reindeer" made regular stops in Horseshoe Bay (now called Chemainus Bay) on its rounds of the coast.