Native Spirits & Spirit Pennies of Skamania Coves
Chapter Ten: Skamania Coves' Art
Native Spirits & Spirit Pennies of Skamania Coves: as experienced by Cinda Stevens Lonsway ~ Steward of Skamania Coves written February 14, 2024.
After the High House was finished, we commissioned Peter X O’Brien, a watercolor artist and good friend, to visit Skamania Coves and paint what inspired him. In addition, Scott challenged him to create old style posters with scenery from our property.
During one of Peter’s visits, we walked the land, and I told him the stories about the Native spirits. Scott suggested that Peter try to capture the image of the woman standing on the hill near the High House to honor her spirit.
Retro Posters:
One of Scott Laser sailing around the iconic rock.
The other of the Sternwheeler which cruises the river right in front of the Riverhouse:
Honoring the High House Native spirit:
The Native woman seen waiting for her husband to come home from fishing.
Note, When I shared this painting with my friend (who had originally seen this woman’s spirit)
she had a visceral reaction to seeing in the physical what she experienced in her mind’s eye:
Peter called this painting Spirit Rock:
This rock is located across from our Big Cove.
He researched the Native people and painted one fishing from his carved-out canoe in our Cove.
Look closely, you can see the hidden Native people and animals in the mountainside.
Find: two lovers, a Native woman sitting, two faces in profile, an eagle, a fox, and a stag.
Prints of these Peter X O’Brien’s paintings are hung throughout our houses.
You can visit his website: http://www.peterxobrien.com
STORY CONTINUES >>>>> CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE OSPREY TREEHOUSE
