Using a fibreglass shell of an eagle as a canvas was rather significant to Richard Hunt, who has created artwork on many different forms.

The Victoria-based carver and First Nations artist spent his early childhood in Fort Rupert on the north end of Vancouver Island, a tiny village for which the eagle embodies part of its town crest.

As well, he says, “Eagles are the spirits of our people.”

Hunt was one of three artists on hand Tuesday at city hall to unveil their creations for Eagles in the City, the latest public art fundraiser from the B.C. Lions Society for Children with Disabilities. Money raised here goes toward Camp Shawnigan and other Lions programs and services for disabled children.

He considers his work “cultural art” and bristles at the fact some have criticized the orcas and spirit bears from the past two Lions’ campaigns as looking all the same. “There’s two faces, four hands, and they’re dancing on the back of the eagle,” he says, describing his fourth piece for the biennial fundraiser. “They’re soaring; flying with the eagles. I look at it as (being like) your relatives.”

The creation of eagles completes the trilogy, following up the spirit bears and orcas in the city, said Eileen Torgeson, manager of Victoria special events for the Lions Society.

Fred Peters from Thetis Island and Wendy Sage River of Saltspring Island created the other two completed pieces. Other confirmed artists are Todd Jason Baker, Patricia Banks, Carol Lewis and Lawson Metail.

The eagles will stay on the streets of Victoria through 2009 and early 2010 before being auctioned off in spring of that year, after the completion of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler and Greater Vancouver.

The longer time frame – previous campaigns lasted one summer – is designed to provide maximum exposure for the eagles, Torgeson said. The expected influx in visitors during the leadup and after the Winter Games should have a positive effect on the amount raised at the auction, she added.

The eagles will be distributed around the city as they are completed and a map showing their location will be printed by next summer. Artists are still being accepted, as are sponsors for the sculptures who have them placed outside their business for the duration of the campaign.

For information, go to www.eaglesinthecity.com or call Torgeson at 250-217-8899 or Stephen Miller at 604-818-1758.

ddescoteau@vicnews.com