‘Island Spirit’ sculpture returns to Pioneer Way

Published 1:30 am Friday, September 24, 2021

“Island Spirit” has finally returned.

The bronze statue of a Native American man holding two salmon had been missing from Southeast Pioneer Way since late 2019 when it was taken out in an accident.

City staff re-installed the art on Wednesday, according to City Archaeologist Gideon Cauffman.

Wayne Lewis, the artist who donated the three-foot tall sculpture to the city in 2014, said that the art was out for repairs following a car crash in 2019.

A woman had a medical episode while driving downtown. The car struck the sculpture on the sidewalk, crashed through a fence, rolled over and fell to the parking lot below, landing on its roof. The 65-year-old woman suffered only minor injuries.

The sculpture, on the other hand, lost an arm. Lewis said the person who did the repair work was delayed because of a family situation. He is happy that the art is back where it belongs.

“Good to have my friend back,” Lewis said.