The ''Sculpture Bird'' (also called ''Dream Catcher, Spirit Catcher'') is a
sculpture situated on the shore of
Kempenfelt Bay in
Barrie,
Ontario, Canada. It was originally created by sculptor
Ron Baird for
Expo 86 in
Vancouver,
British Columbia.
Nine sculptors were asked to submit proposals for Expo 86, and two were chosen to be commissioned. The sculpture took six months to sculpt using
COR-TEN steel
Steel is an alloy made up of iron with added carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant ty ...
; this alloy develops a non-corrosive oxide and retains its structural integrity.
After the end of the exposition the sculpture was purchased by the Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation in
Toronto for . The foundation then donated the sculpture to the 'Barrie Gallery Project' as an inspiration to create an art gallery in the city of Barrie. The twenty ton, 25 m (70 ft) wide by 21 m (65 ft) tall sculpture was transported to Barrie using two flatbed trucks, and was installed by volunteers and two cranes. It took two days during the weekend of 12 June and 13 June 1987, and was dedicated on 12 September 1987.
The sculpture has 16 kinetic quills, which rock back and forth when the wind blows. Several months after it was erected on the site in Barrie, the unpredictable winds coming onshore from
Kempenfelt Bay caused concern that the quills might fall off. The quills were redesigned by the artist with the assistance of Mike Davies, the recently retired vice president of advanced engineering at
de Havilland aircraft.
The sculpture is a focal point on the Barrie waterfront, and serves as both a meeting place and navigational aid to travellers and citizens of the city alike. The installation of the sculpture initiated a drive to place numerous pieces of art around the city which continues to this day.

In May 2021, residents placed children's footwear at the base of the ''Sculpture Bird'' to commemorate the
215 children found in an unmarked grave at the
Kamloops Indian Residential School.
References
External links
''Spirit Catcher'' information at MacLaren Art Centre
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Outdoor sculptures in Canada
1986 sculptures
Buildings and structures in Barrie
Steel sculptures in Canada