Arthur Vickers (artist) facts for kids
Arthur Vickers (born in 1947) is a talented Canadian artist and storyteller from the West Coast. He is known for his beautiful artwork and for helping others. In 2008, he received the Order of British Columbia, which is a special award given to people who have done great things for the province. He earned this award for his amazing work raising money for good causes.
Arthur Vickers' Artworks
Arthur Vickers is famous for his art, especially pieces that use gold leaf, which is a very thin sheet of gold used to decorate things. He is skilled in many different art forms, like drawing, carving, painting, and making prints. You can see his art at the Arthur Vickers' Gallery, which is located in the lovely seaside village of Cowichan Bay. This village is on the southern part of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
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A beautiful sunrise over Cowichan Bay.
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An Orca, also known as a killer whale, in Arthur Vickers' style.
The Leadership Desk: A Special Gift
One of Arthur Vickers' unique creations is called "The Leadership Desk." This desk is made from red cedar wood and is shaped like a traditional bentwood box. Bentwood boxes are special containers made by First Nations people, where wood is steamed and bent into shape. The desk is decorated with symbols and designs from First Nations art, which are called iconography.
Arthur Vickers gave this special desk to the Premier of British Columbia in October 2009. The Premier is like the leader or head of the government for the province. The Leadership Desk is now kept permanently in the Premier's Office in British Columbia, where it serves as a symbol of leadership and First Nations culture.
Arthur Vickers' Life Story
Arthur Vickers was born in Vancouver, Canada. His mother had English and Canadian family roots, and his father came from the Tsimshian and Heiltsuk First Nations peoples. He spent his childhood in a Tsimshian village called Kitkatla. There, he spent a lot of time with his grandfather, who was a fisherman and also carved canoes. This time helped him connect with his heritage and the natural world, which often inspires his art.
Arthur Vickers has also received special recognition for his achievements. In 2006, he was given an honorary doctorate in fine arts from the University of Victoria. This means the university recognized his great contributions to art. Later, in 2010, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Camosun College, celebrating his success after studying there.
