Robin Roberts is currently at work on a pretty big project B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 one of 21 Indigenous artists that have been selected to have their work displayed throughout the City of Vancouver.

VancouverB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淧latforms,B次元官网网址� a public art program, is featuring all Indigenous artists for the first time in its history. Celebrating National Indigenous History Month, the city launched the 2023 program Thursday (June 8) at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

Roberts said itB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渜uite an honourB次元官网网址� to be selected, as the B次元官网网址渞elationships between the city and the local Nations is paramount.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e need to honour the local artists and have more of the local representation in the city,B次元官网网址� he explained. B次元官网网址淚 think that it gives you a sense B次元官网网址� especially for Indigenous people B次元官网网址� it might give them a sense of home, or a sense of belonging within the community.B次元官网网址�

Roberts planning to do two to four pieces, which will be shown on bus stops beginning in November.

His project is going to be a painting of the relationship of his different ancestries. Originally from Prince Rupert, Roberts has status on his dadB次元官网网址檚 side through the Haida Nation. His mom was born in Hartley Bay, which is part of the GitgaB次元官网网址檃t in the Tsimshian Nation, but his maternal grandmother is from the Squamish First Nation.

B次元官网网址淢y work is going to be a painting of the relationship between my identity and Haida and Tsimshian and Coast Salish, as well. Growing up primarily in Prince Rupert in Tsimshian territory and also having my status in Haida Gwaii connects me more to Haida and Tsimshian , but being here since 1999 IB次元官网网址檝e started to learn and do Coast Salish art.B次元官网网址�

Four works from other artists are already being showcased throughout the city as part of B次元官网网址淧latforms: Nine Places for SeeingB次元官网网址�: Lauren Crazybull, of Blackfoot Dene, has a painted collage depicting the absence and presence of Indigenous faces at Marine Drive Canada Line Station; Coast Salish artist Atheana PichaB次元官网网址檚 work is on the Playhouse Theatre with illustrations showing spring awakening; Aaron Nelson Moody, of Squamish Nation, used western typography and Coast Salish imagery to tell a story; and Tsleil-WaututhB次元官网网址檚 Olivia George created an illustration of bees and beehives with Salish design elements on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

Vancouver Indigenous Arts and Culture Planner Dionne Paul said the city hired three cultural advisors to help select artists as a B次元官网网址渁 way of lowering barriers for Indigenous artists and the application process and it was also about building community and relationship with the artists of these lands.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淧latformsB次元官网网址� was first launched in 2010, which uses citywide infrastructure as temporary canvases for two-dimensional art installations. The artwork will be installed on a B次元官网网址渞olling basis,B次元官网网址� says the city, between 2023 and 2025.

lauren.collins@blackpress.ca
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