VisionQuest is an incorporated society consisting of members of the public and RCMP members. It has been formed with the sole purpose of collecting funds to construct a Recover Center on the West Coast of Canada. A Recovery Center for all addictions and for all people. One of its fund raising ventures was an initiative called “Journeys ‘97”. Journeys ’97 was an historic and epic canoe journey. It was done in a canoe that is an exact replica of a west coast native, ocean going canoe. It is made of fiberglass and Kevlar, rather than the traditional cedar, and was designed and constructed at Clipper Canoes in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The Journey commenced on July 3rd, 1997 from Hazelton, British Columbia and culminated on August 3rd, 1997 in the harbour in Victoria, British Columbia. In all, the Journey covered over 1,600 kilometers. The Journey was designed to raise awareness and to accumulate funds by donation, all of which will be aimed at the construction of a Recovery Center somewhere on the west coast of Canada.
I designed, painted and printed “Pulling Together” in commemoration of this epic and historic Journey. All profits from the print edition will be donated to VisionQuest. In the image “Pulling Together” I have depicted our canoe as being powered by a group of people of generic faces. The faces are those of men and women, young and old. The faces could be those of any nationality or race and the many colours of the coats and gear of the pullers in fact represent the fact that the occupants of the canoe represent all people. In the stern, the helmsman steering the canoe, is dressed in red, RCMP red. The significance of that is that the canoe venture itself was organized and directed your national police force, the RCMP. The canoe represents all of society working together, as a community pulling together, toward a common cause. Most canoes of such design are adorned with some insignia, crest or design. The canoe in my image has no such markings. It is a canoe for, and of, all the people. There is no crest or design indicating specific ownership. The pullers in the canoe are being helped, guided and protected by the image in the background. The “West Coast Woman” was designed by renowned west coast native artist, Roy Henry Vickers, and she signifies the nurturing, caring and protective nature of the woman in the native culture. Her image in the background is the official logo of “Journeys ‘97” and she has been placed in my design to indicate that her caring and protective hands are helping us on our quest and Journey. With her help and yours we will realize success. Your Recovery Center will be build and those who find recovery there will no longer be causing the grief, sorrow and trauma that addictive personalities inevitably wreak on our society. We will, however, realize success only by focusing together on a common goal, cooperating with each other and by “Pulling Together”. By purchasing this image you are in fact supporting VisionQuest. It is my hope that as this image is displayed in your home or place of business it will cause you not only to reflect on our goal, but it will provide you an opportunity to tell others of our common goal. The road to this recovery center is a long one. The only way we will achieve success is if we keep the energy alive. It will only happen if our canoe continues in its relentless forward motion, and that will only happen when all of us work hard at “Pulling Together”.
