In my November column, I pointed out that the Fisherman at Veteran’s Memorial Drive and Locust Avenue resembles D. B. Cooper, who allegedly lived just down the street from the intersection. Jacob Lucas of Bonney Lake is the Native American chainsaw artist who created the piece of public art.

The same artist has created yet another awesome piece of chainsaw art. You may have seen it on a recent news broadcasts or in The News Tribune.

The 6-foot sculpture is made from two cedar logs. It features a Seahawk head and ornate carvings of feathers and moccasins etched with a “12” and the space needle on the belt buckle.

“12th man pride, that’s what it’s saying,” Lucas said of the Native American influenced carving that he etched out in three weeks.

He carved the Seahawk to combine his love of the Hawks with his Native American heritage, Lucas told King 5 news.

“I would personally love to see it back in the city (Seattle) – in the stadium – for everyone to enjoy,” Lucas said.

He loaded it in the back of his pickup truck and took it on a tour through Seattle. It was on display at a pre-game event, where people posed and took pictures with it.

Public art should be on display where it can be observed by the masses. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone has different tastes, so variety is the spice of life. It is a form of expression and there are many mediums.

The Fisherman was installed in 2008 as public art in Bonney Lake.

I next read about Lucas in an article in CityVision, an Association of Washington Cities magazine. He carved eagles, Chinook salmon and bears from the trees of Bridgeport that had toppled due to disease and storms. He later did the same magic in 2012 in Mason City Park. Lucas works with wood, ice, pumpkins and snow.

Other public art in Bonney Lake is found at the transit center. There is a three piece metal sculpture installation by Olalla artist Gary Jackson of Sunburst Metalworks that was the inspiration for the signs at the city parks around the city.

There is also “The Ascent,” a bronze statue of a boy reaching for the sky and birds, at the western gateway of our city. It was created by Larry Anderson, a nationally acclaimed Bonney Lake artist. It is one of many beautiful creations by Anderson. Have you had a chance to attend Third Thursday in Tacoma yet to visit the museums for free? If you are walking from the Tacoma Art Museum to the Museum of Glass or Washington State History Museum on Pacific Avenue, there is another bronze statue created by Anderson called “New Beginnings.” It is of a man dressed in apparel of the late 1800s standing in front of Union Station with his satchel.

In the lobby of the Municipal Justice Center (MJC) there is an oil painting by Hulan Fleming, another local artist who has gained national fame. The painting is of the same intersection where D.B. Cooper allegedly lived, but painted in an earlier era.

Also at the MJC is a rotating display of photography by a local photography group, as well as display cases with historical artifacts from the Greater Bonney Lake Historical Society (GBLHS).

Last but not least, the Bonney Lake Library offers many books about history and art, as well as those free museum passes. They also feature art and collections in display cases in the entry, as well as a beautiful hand painted balloon mural in the children’s area called “Curious and Curiouser” a line from “Alice in Wonderland.” The Friends of the Library held a contest for patrons to suggest a theme for the project and raised $3500.

The winning idea was submitted by then 14-year-old Kevin Kirkpatrick. The art committee, including Kirkpatrick, chose local artist, illustrator and former junior high art instructor, Marjett Schille, from the six applicants.

The GBLHS is putting together a business plan to have a museum in Bonney Lake. They were the impetus of the partnership that placed historical markers around the city. They have been working on the collection of the Milotte’s artifacts and host the annual film festival in their honor. Alfred and Elma Milotte worked for Walt Disney and travelled the world filming animals. They were also artists and puppeteers. They owned a tree farm on what is now Sky Island and Panorama Heights. They donated the land for the city well at Grainger Springs, near the former location of the Naches Trail. We have Skystone and the historic Kelley Farm. Near the city owned Reed Property was the site of the battle at Connell’s Prairie during the Indian Wars of 1855-56. The Reed farm was used by Green River Community College around 1970 for archeological digs by an instructor and archeologist by the name of Gerald Hedlund. We need to accentuate these treasures with more signs, markers and a museum.

The Seahawks 12th man seems to have caught the interest of the masses in the Pacific Northwest. Everyone is on the team, no matter your political views, your religion, your age, your gender, your sexual orientation, your color or economic standing. Art also transcends these differences in bringing the patrons together to explore the history, colors, media and message of the artist; be it a museum, a musical performance, a play or art.   The Tunes at Tapps, Kids Club, Friday Night Flicks and Shakespeare in the Park programs provided by the city offer something for everyone.

It is time for Bonney Lake to move forward in creating a Culture and Heritage Commission. Ordinance 1413 was adopted in December 2011, adding a cultural and historic element to the Comprehensive Plan.  While optional under the Growth Management Act, the city has chosen to incorporate this element into the plan because it is a vital part of the community’s interests. The plan addresses arts and culture as well as heritage and preservation planning for the City of Bonney Lake.

Having a commission with goals and vision to oversee the development of the cultural and heritage elements in our city will provide direction. These diverse treasures need to be catalogued on the city website so they can be enjoyed by many. The history of the plateau area, as well as the story of these local artists, needs to be documented.

You know, even something as small as gnome doors are art.

If Paul Allen or the Seahawks or the City of Seattle doesn’t snatch it up, I personally would like to see Lucas’ Seahawk art displayed right here in Bonney Lake at the Municipal Justice Center on one of the upper levels.

Can we keep it Neil? Can we? Please?

Go Seahawks!