Two bronze deer now grace the grounds of UBC鈥檚 Okanagan campus, a gift that will forever stand as a legacy to former undergraduate student River Sidley.
River died suddenly in 2014 and received a posthumous bachelor of science in June 2015.
The artwork, 鈥淧air of Deer鈥� was created by River鈥檚 father David, a sculptor from Rossland, B.C. The family, grateful for the experience their son had at the university, donated the bronze sculptures as a way of commemorating River鈥檚 memory.
鈥淚n appreciation of UBC Okanagan, and in honour of River, I decided to install these sculptures on the campus,鈥� said David Sidley, in a press release.
鈥淗opefully, they will be enjoyed for years to come and remind people of my son who probably would have made a name for himself here as well.鈥�
The bronzes, which were conceived in Rossland at the artist鈥檚 studio and then cast in 91大黄鸭, were installed in the campus courtyard in time for June鈥檚 convocation celebrations.
鈥淯BC Okanagan gratefully welcomes David Sidley鈥檚 beautiful artwork to the campus,鈥� said UBC Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal Deborah Buszard, in a press release.
鈥淭he sculpture is a moving tribute from a parent to his departed son. River felt at home on this campus and we were honoured to choose a prominent location for the work as a reflection of the Sidley family鈥檚 embrace of our learning community.鈥�
鈥淗is important work adds breadth to our collection and resonates well with existing outdoor artworks on campus,鈥� said Susan Belton, curator of UBC Okanagan鈥檚 Public Art Collection.
River was studying at the Bamfield Marine Science Centre at the time of his passing, leading the Sidley family to endow the River Timothy Sidley Memorial Award in 2015. The award supports a UBC Okanagan student who shares River鈥檚 love for marine biology and who is pursuing additional studies at the Bamfield Marine Science Centre.
River鈥檚 mother Louise, who received her Masters of Fine Arts from UBC in 2010, says her son had found his life passion at Bamfield and through the award in River鈥檚 name the family wishes to honour his life.
鈥淲e wanted to carry on River鈥檚 potential, and it鈥檚 been really meaningful for us because we鈥檝e been able to see the recipients, and we have formed relationships with new students. That鈥檚 been very energizing for us,鈥� said Louise. 鈥淯BC has been incredibly supportive of us as a family trying to grow and to learn, and it鈥檚 nice to keep our connection to the campus with this scholarship and the deer.鈥�
The family ties with UBC are deep and the Sidleys were filled with pride when River鈥檚 sister Sage graduated from UBC Okanagan campus in 2016 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. The family is now in the process of establishing a second award at UBC Vancouver to further honour their son鈥檚 memory and support even more UBC students.
鈥淚 think our relationship with UBC has helped our whole family deal with our loss because of the legacy we鈥檙e able to leave behind,鈥� Louise said.
The deer were installed into the university鈥檚 courtyard, a spot where students and faculty gather for occasions throughout the year. The artwork was officially unveiled on June 16.
