Renowned muralist and painter Frank LewisB次元官网网址� work adorns bridges, museums and many businesses throughout the southern Island, across Canada and even at the Canadian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The six-foot-six, blue-eyed M茅tis artist died March 6 at 81.

In September, Lewis unveiled , Honour Creation, at the Royal Jubilee HospitalB次元官网网址檚 healing centre. He described the piece as the culmination of his 65-year career.

B次元官网网址淚 decided I would concentrate on the only thing I had left to do, to explore the spirituality within me that was still there and fresh and strong, and had been all throughout my career,B次元官网网址� he told the B次元官网网址 at the time.

Victoria Pruden, vice-president of the M茅tis Nation of Greater Victoria, said Lewis was a gift not only to Canada, but to the M茅tis people as a whole.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard to put into words the way Frank is able to communicate so many aspects of us B次元官网网址� positive, spiritual, healing B次元官网网址� but also some of the challenges weB次元官网网址檝e had as M茅tis, of being the invisible people,B次元官网网址� Pruden said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 able to transition such a poignant part of our soul and our experience through art.B次元官网网址�

Lewis was born to a Cree father and Scottish mother in Winnipeg, but graduated from Oak Bay High in 1952. He earned a scholarship to Vancouver School of Art, now the Emily Carr University of Art and Design.

He embarked on a rich career in commercial art, winning awards as a graphic designer for magazines, books, CBC television and dozens of musical artists.

He was also a successful stage actor, appearing in the National Arts Centre premiere of George RygaB次元官网网址檚 The Ecstacy of Rita Joe in 1967.

Since 1982, Lewis designed and painted dozens of murals, including B次元官网网址淏ridgingB次元官网网址� along the Galloping Goose Trail, B次元官网网址淭ime StepsB次元官网网址� on the Luxe Building at 1114 Langley St., the interior of Peacock Billiards and VancouverB次元官网网址檚 100th anniversary mural on the outside of that cityB次元官网网址檚 Maritime Museum.

Lewis met his wife, Margaret Parker, at his 40th high school reunion in 1992, a moment he recalled as B次元官网网址渓ove at first sight.B次元官网网址� She was at his side when he died.

A celebration of LewisB次元官网网址� life will be held at McCallB次元官网网址檚 Funeral Home, 1400 Vancouver St., on Friday, March 22 at 2 p.m.

A service will also be held in Vancouver at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pacific Opera Victoria, while condolences for the family can be submitted at mccallbros.com.

dpalmer@vicnews.com