News Archives: Steinhauer Installs Public Sculpture at GPRC
Monday, June 11th, 2012
June 11, 2012 Eaglechild and Sweetgrass Bear arrive at GPRC Two installations of public sculpture at GPRC will grace College grounds for the coming year, courtesy of Alberta sculptor Stewart Steinhauer. The massive granite works were installed by Steinhauer this morning as part of an ongoing public exhibition of his work. Steinhauer chose GPRC Grande Prairie in order to exhibit in proximity to another Cardinal building; a previous exhibit was installed at St. Albert City Hall, which was also designed by D.J. Cardinal. The two sculptures installed today are “Eaglechild” and “Sweetgrass Bear.” “Eaglechild” is “Granite assembly, 2012, 7 ft 6 in height by 5 ft in diameter. The four base rocks represent the Grandfathers of the south, west, north and east, with related colours and implied values. Above sits the mysterious woman who turned into a sweatlodge, she is Mother Earth. Sitting in her lap, loved, protected, nurtured, is the little Eaglechild in his first sweatlodge ceremony. Down Mother Earth’s back are the seven stones, speaking of the seven stages.” From now until next summer, this sculpture is on loan to our community, displayed on the island near the Theatre entrance at GPRC " and available for sale. “Sweetgrass Bear” is granite assembly, 2012, 7’6” high by 6’6” long and 3’10” wide. The base stone includes the words “Sweetgrass Teachings: Humble Kindness, Sharing, Honesty, Determination.” All the work of Stewart Steinhauer is deeply rooted in the values, traditions and wisdoms of indigenous culture. “I make my living carving stone, and am known as a stone sculptor, but I don’t call myself an artist,” Steinhauer states on his website. “In the indigenous worldview to which I subscribe there is a mysterious creative force driving through everything, and sometimes individuals get caught up in that creative energy and inadvertently make stuff. As someone who inadvertently makes stuff, I would like to gently articulate this critical difference between what my Scots/Irish ancestors call ‘individual artistic talent’, and what my Cree/Anishnabe/Mohawk ancestors call ‘a spiritual gift”. Coming to consciousness within many indigenous cultures involves a journey out of the small me into the large we; creative individuals become conscious of the swirling pool of creative forces, and recognize their (our) place in it.” GPRC is highly honoured and privileged to have been chosen as an exhibition site for the works of Stewart Steinhauer. “It is a great privilege to have the work of this eminent sculptor in our community for the coming year,” says Carmen Haakstad, Vice-President External Relations. “We hope that the people of our community will take the opportunity to enjoy these amazing sculptures over the coming months " and that some of them may find a permanent home here in northern Aberta!” -30- For more information about the art of Stewart Steinhauer please visit http://www.stonesculpture.ca