By Crystal St.Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, WINDSPEAKER.COM
Fourteen Northwest Coast contemporary and traditional artists will be showcased in the upcoming Bright Futures exhibit at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art in Vancouver.
The exhibit opens to the public on April 26 and runs until Jan. 14, 2024.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really focusing and inspired by the fact that itB次元官网网址檚 been 25 years after Bill Reid has passed away,B次元官网网址� said co-curator Aliya Boubard. B次元官网网址淲e were really thinking about what he would think about art on the Northwest Coast now, especially contemporary art.B次元官网网址�
Reid, born in 1920, passed away in 1998. He was a Haida master artist who began creating in his late twenties after connecting with his Indigenous roots.
His own style mixed traditional elements of Northwest Coast art with his own contemporary twist.
His work included paintings, sculptures and jewelry creation and more.
B次元官网网址淗e did so many things, so we really have to try and get a variety of artists and types of artwork in our gallery,B次元官网网址� said Boubard. B次元官网网址淗e was really instrumental in the revival of art here on the Northwest Coast. Because of so much loss of Indigenous cultures, not only on the coast but all throughout North America, a lot of people werenB次元官网网址檛 necessarily practicing that art.B次元官网网址�
Another characteristic that Reid is remembered for is how he mentored emerging artists who continue creating even today.
Rebecca Baker-Grenier. of KwakB次元官网网址檞akaB次元官网网址檞akw Nations and Squamish decent, is one of the contributors to the exhibit. She said master artists, such as Reid, are instrumental in paving the way for Indigenous artists today.
B次元官网网址淚 think he was somebody who was important for Northwest Coast art,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 come from a long line of master artists as well, and I think itB次元官网网址檚 important to hold people such as Bill Reid and the work he did, as well as other master artists, at a high regard because they dedicate their life towards their art. But, for me, more than just art, itB次元官网网址檚 about our culture because all of our culture is within the art, and you canB次元官网网址檛 separate the two.B次元官网网址�
Baker-Grenier has contributed an article of clothing titled B次元官网网址淎ncestral StrengthB次元官网网址� to the exhibit.
The garment is a cape featuring a mix of wool, cedar bark, ermine, jingles and Swarovski crystals.
B次元官网网址淲hen I was creating the piece, I wanted to look at how I can use traditional materials and innovate them and use them in a new way,B次元官网网址� explained Baker-Grenier. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really to highlight the materials that we, and I say we as in the people today but also our ancestors, have always used these materials to create not only art, but it was very much about function.
B次元官网网址淎nd I wanted to really highlight the cedar. From as far back as our origin stories, it has been a source of life for us, both in functionality in the way that we use it for our tools, to build canoes, to build our Big Houses, to carve our masks.B次元官网网址�
She used the cedar bark to make a rope that was then placed on the garment in a floral pattern.
After playing in her motherB次元官网网址檚 sewing room and watching her sew throughout her childhood, Baker-GrenierB次元官网网址檚 own passion for sewing began when she was only 11 years old when her mom helped her sew her first traditional regalia.
B次元官网网址淚 developed a strong passion for sewing regalia. I continue to do it to this day,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淔or me it is such an important thing, not only to create it for myself but to ensure that my family has regalia and in hopes that I can also pass on these techniques to my kids when they are older. It is kinda coming full circle because now my kids are playing in my sewing room.B次元官网网址�
In 2021 she started incorporating all of her passion for traditional clothing into more contemporary fashion designs.
B次元官网网址淩egalia is specific to the individual and the culture. I wanted to take those teachings and stories and create something that is more widely accessible, and I thought fashion was a really good starting point for that. I see fashion as an outward expression of our identity. I think through fashion we can express who we are. We can be proud of our art form.B次元官网网址�
She received a scholarship from the Vancouver Airport, titled the YVR Emerging Artist.
The scholarship supported her finding mentor Pam Baker, who guided her through the creation of a piece titled B次元官网网址淲azulisB次元官网网址� that was displayed at the airport and is now on display at the Museum of Vancouver.
B次元官网网址淚 think the mentorship is quite unique, as well, because it is how we would traditionally learn from our mothers or our aunties and thatB次元官网网址檚 really how we pass on our culture,B次元官网网址� she said.
As she continues to develop her fashion designs under the label Kanayu Kollection, Baker-Grenier says it is extremely important for her to continue to incorporate her Northwest Coast roots into her fashion pieces.
Along with Reid and Baker-Grenier, the exhibition features Tamara Bell (Haida), Sherri Dick (Haida), Shoshannah Greene (Haida), Maynard Johnny Jr. (KwakwakaB次元官网网址檞akw/Salish), Keith Kerrigan (Haida), Cody Lecoy (Sylix/Lekwungen), Latham Mack (Nuxalk), Calvin Morberg (Teslin Tlingit), Kelly Robinson (Nuxalk), Natasha Seymour (Tahltan/Tsimshian/NisgaB次元官网网址檃), Yolanda Skelton (Gitxsan) and Krystle Silverfox (Selkirk & Northern Tutchone) and Dustin Sheldon (Teslin Tlingit).
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