Leadership Desk Presented to BC

OCTOBER 31, 2009

Victoria - Internationally-known B.C. artist Arthur Vickers joined Premier Gordon Campbell today to unveil the Leadership Desk - which Vickers designed and created as a gift from the people of British Columbia to the Government of B.C.

The eagle represents leadership at its very roots - from the out-stretched wings of an adult eagle offering a blanket of protection to its young, to the importance of nurturing our young so they can one day soar high above any storm,"
Arthur Vickers
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The hand-crafted red cedar desk, created in the form of a bentwood box and adorned with First Nation's iconography, now rests in the Premier's Office to be used and kept in perpetuity for today and for generations to come.

"It's an honour to accept this gift on behalf of the Province of British Columbia. This desk will serve as an inspiration to those who occupy this office for generations to come," said Premier Campbell. "As well as being an outstanding example of the work of a gifted B.C. artist, this iconic desk is a reminder of our province's rich First Nations cultural heritage and the artistic diversity that is found in British Columbia."

Vickers told the story of the Leadership Desk, an artistic journey that took over three years to complete and included a painstaking search for recovered old growth red cedar. This search eventually led to finding recovered cedar that was pulled from a burn pile over 20 years ago. The shape of the desk has great significance in First Nations culture as traditional bentwood boxes were used not only to protect possessions but to tell stories of significance.

"In my creations I draw from my experiences of living in B.C. and am always inspired by the signs of nature that so often guide us," said Vickers. "The future is affected by the decisions of today and I trust that the Leadership Desk will inspire those who sit behind it, and that they will pause and consider the enormous responsibilities that they have accepted on behalf of all British Columbians."

Vickers's use of First Nation's iconography in the forms of eagles, salmon and old growth cedars share stories of leadership that are deeply engrained in First Nation's culture.

"The eagle represents leadership at its very roots - from the out-stretched wings of an adult eagle offering a blanket of protection to its young, to the importance of nurturing our young so they can one day soar high above any storm," said Vickers "From the feather that tells the story of all living things through its light and dark sides, to the reminder that the decisions of our leader today directly affect the development of future generations and the precious circle of life that sustains us."

"The conjunction of incredibly rare wood, superb craftsmanship, and powerful imagery are nothing short of awe inspiring," said Nick Tuele, certified art appraiser and past chief curator of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria for over 18 years. "This stunning desk must surely rank as the artist's masterpiece at this juncture in his distinguished career. Vickers has created something unique and this gift will resonate through the ages for generations to come."

Watch a video of the presentation on multimedia.gov.bc.ca

Text and images courtesy of Office of the Premier