Spirit

Spirit by Elza Mayhew, column in bronze

Photo: Karl Spreitz

Spirit by Elza Mayhew, detail, top front

Early sketches related to Spirit by Elza Mayhew

Rice paper rubbing of Spirit by Isamu Akino

Rice paper rubbings of Spirit by Isamu Akino

Date: 1964
Size: H: 9' x W: 20" x D: 10"
Weight: 1975 lbs.
Casts: 1
Form: Column
Material: Bronze

Exhibited at the Venice Biennale, 1964. On its way home, Spirit spent time in Ottawa at the National Gallery; then travelled to Charlottetown, PEI, where it was exhibited in Confederation Centre through two summer festivals.

In December 1965, Mayhew accepted an offer to purchase from the BC Government, Department of Public Works. The piece was wanted for Centennial Celebrations in September 1967, so Spirit remained in PEI until then. The sculpture was eventually sited at the B.C. Archives and Museum, Victoria, on an island in the landscaped pond, where it is today.

In 2015, Anne Mayhew donated to the museum an ink rubbing, height 9 feet, taken from the front of the Spirit column. The rubbing – black ink on rice paper – was made by Isamu Akino in 1971.

ENDNOTE:

For more information about Isamu Akino and his process, please see endnote in Black Priestess section.