Next up in my; "Where Are They Now" series is Prairie alum and former staff member who in the art community is known as Bika.
The artist’s name, BIKA, was given to Paul Steinhauer as a boy growing up in the Caribbean island of Haiti. It means “aggie” the shooter in the game marbles. Because Paul’s head when shaved for rainy season always gleamed brighter than those of his boyhood friends, he earned the nickname, “marble head or shooter head”. In 1990 when Bika returned to Haiti after the tragic loss of his only child and daughter in a car accident, his brother suggested that he paint as therapy for healing from grief.
A graphic designer for 25 years, Bika turned to fine art in order to celebrate the beautiful life and legacy left by his sixteen year old who loved art and dancing. Since 1990 Bika has enlarged his prolific genres, becoming an acclaimed Canadian Caribbean artist.
I have known Paul since the early eighties where he spent countless hours at our kitchen table churning out articles and copy on our old typewriter late into the night and sometimes the wee hours of the morning. I also spent many hours with him in the art department helping with the layout on the Overcomer and Young Pilot.
In addition to Paul being able to beat me in a 100 yard foot race, he designed the logo for my very first, "real" recording studio ~ Suite Sound Studios. I am also honoured to own one of Bika's original paintings.
Paul lives in California where he is still active as an artist.
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