Aboriginal Art at Vancouver 2010 Venues
Art breathes life into a space. That’s certainly what’s achieved with the installation of Aboriginal art at the 2010 Winter Games venues. In a two-day exhibition starting Saturday, October 17, the public will have an opportunity to meet more than 50 of the brilliant artists behind the fantastic, permanent Aboriginal art installations at Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games venues. Visitors may also view a selection of additional paintings, carvings and photography works at the Vancouver Convention Centre; admission to the exhibition is free.
With the support of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), the exhibition will feature artworks by master and emerging First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists from every region in Canada.
Aboriginal Art at Venues
The pieces on display as part of the exhibition will be displayed at venues
during the 2010 Winter Games in February and March as part of a larger celebration of Aboriginal culture.
“The striking new works created by Aboriginal artists across Canada for the 2010 Winter Games through the Vancouver 2010 Venues’ Aboriginal Art Program are being taken a step further with this exhibit and auction,” said Tewanee Joseph, Chief Executive Officer of the Four Host First Nations.
“Our goal is twofold: to increase public understanding of the diverse works being created by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and to raise funds for our young people so they can follow their dreams, which may include becoming successful Aboriginal artists themselves. We hope this develops into an annual event.”
A Permanent Legacy
There are close to 140 individual pieces of original artwork produced for the Vancouver 2010 Venues’ Aboriginal Art Program at Games venues from Richmond to Whistler. As part of the $3-million program, whose participants were announced by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) in June 2009, over 40 of the artworks will be part of the permanent legacy of the 2010 Winter Games at the venues. Installation of the works started in late 2008 and the majority of the art will be completed this week.
The program was enhanced by artistic and economic development workshops held by INAC. Five showpiece artworks created through these workshops, including a large, colourful tapestry from the Inuit of the Arctic, were purchased by VANOC and are among the permanent venue art installations. The Nuu-chah-nulth Arts Association, Mi’kmaq Association of Cultural Studies, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Manitoba Aboriginal Arts Council Inc. and the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (Métis 10) participated in the program and the resulting higher profile from their 2010 work is encouraging other cities to consider sister sculptures of their own.
O Siyam
The Aboriginal artworks displayed in the venues will be featured in O Siyam: Aboriginal Art inspired by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, published by John Wiley & Sons Canada Ltd. The full-colour coffee table book will be available in stores on November 2 — the first official Games-related book to be published. Copies of the book can be pre-ordered at the exhibition.
Auction Pieces
Proceeds from an auction, on Friday, October 16, will go towards the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Youth Legacy Fund. Artworks up for auction include:
•Paintings by Sammy Kudluk of Nunavik, Quebec and notable Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy of Millbrook, Nova Scotia.
•A woven human figure and traditional Nuu-chah-nulth hat by Delores Bayne of Hesquiaht, British Columbia.
•An intricately carved silver bracelet by Rodney Sayers of Hupacasath, British Columbia.
•Smudge and Smog by Métis photographer Sara Roque of Shebahonaning (Killarney), Ontario.
•A pink resin cast buffalo skull by Kevin McKenzie of Vancouver, British Columbia.
•A 2-D abstract elk by Jason Baerg of Toronto, Ontario.
•Colleen Cutschall’s One Horned Buffalo Curling Rocks sculpture from Brandon, Manitoba.
The exhibition, auction and artwork are made possible through the strong partnership between the Government of Canada, the province of British Columbia, VANOC and the Four Host First Nations.
“We’re proud to support this important initiative to highlight and celebrate the unique talent of Aboriginal artists in Canada,” said the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians. “Our Government is committed to working with our partners to enhance artistic recognition and promote economic opportunities for Canada’s Aboriginal artists.”
Aboriginal Art Auction
When: Friday, October 16 from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: Pan Pacific, Vancouver
For table purchase inquiries for the auction, please e-mail Connie_Watts@vancouver2010.com
Aboriginal Art Exhibition
When: Saturday, October 17 from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, and Sunday, October 18 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre, Hall A, located at 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Admission is free
