On a gloriously sunny late September morning a crew of PNWS members, friends and family of Bill Leigh gathered to honor his life and passion for the arts on the banks of the Columbia River where he spent a big chunk of his life. Suprise Beach in central Vancouver was the perfect place for a pop-up sand sculpture event as the beach was nearly empty, the sand packable, the water warm and clear. Since the tidal effect was outgoing and nearly at it’s ebb, the sculptures created near the waterline were sure to be dismantled and deconstructed by the forces of nature, leaving the memory of our artistic endeavors precious and personal.
This gathering was an opportunity to share some history, stories, jokes and special moments with Bill’s brother and sister, Brad and Selina, Jamie and some of the members that worked with Bill on the board and various PNWS events throughout the years.
There is an unmeasurable value in gathering when the agenda is to have fun, create in community and honor each of our unique talents and skillsets. A constant theme in Bill’s life centered around helping others fulfill their dreams/goals, especially when it involved physicality. I can’t help but think he was very much with us as we scraped, packed, shoveled and troweled our way toward creations.
Jamie worked on creating a “Bill’s Island”, with a mountain, trees (that he loved) and a sample of one of his sculptures.
Leslie brought a device that allowed us to pack sand in a column to carve as we saw fit.
I started work on building a tribute to Bill’s fabulous gray moustache and with others pitching in, it morphed into a full on face including a (very big) Rolling Stones logo tongue.
None of us knows the best way to honor a life well lived, but the idea of continuing on doing what we do seems a proper tribute as we carry on with the memories of others who have inspired us, and work their influence into the fabric of our lives.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.