"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."

~ Plato (428 BC-348 BC)

Everyone has in them the creativity of a child at play. Through play we explore the possible. The concrete steps spiral upward where linear time ceases to exist. Facing all directions, these animals form a full circle. They are anchored at the core by a tree of life: the family and the grounding force. From a central strength of community, the individual parts of the whole add their light, combining to create its beauty and reinforce its diversity.

The Raven is entice. An exciting community entices its people, encouraging them to play and grow. The raven courts, teases, supports and invites. It resides in the branches of the tree of life, reaching ever upwards and outwards. Its domain is the air. The Bear is embrace. A healthy community is like a bear, embracing its citizens to make them feel safe and strong. It nurtures their spirits and grounds them like the trunk of the tree of life. It is on the land, and of the land. The Seal is explore. An inquisitive community pushes its members to explore, to discover and expand themselves and the world around them. The tree’s roots are below the ground, deep where the water nourishes. The seal is always curious, always playful.

Kinship of Play

Date: 2010

Client: Parksville Downtown Business Association and The City of Parksville

Approximate Dimensions: 10’ x 10’ x 14.5’

Materials: Aluminum, Granite, Powder coat and concrete