Latest news with #FirstNationsArt
CBC
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Search for B.C.'s Best Symbol: Coastal Championship
Social Sharing Xwalacktun, a sculptor and carver from the Squamish and 'Namgis nations, holds up his drum and shows all the details of the piece of art that adorns it. "There's movement happening," he says, pointing to the thunderbird in the middle and the series of small circles surrounded by crescents. "If you were to throw a pebble into the water, it ripples. Triangles are a reminder that we're being watched, like the end of the eyelids … everything is connected here." The trigons and ovoids are used to draw, paint, weave and carve depictions of creatures and nature in all types of Coast Salish art. While showcasing symbols of nature, the works of art have, over time, become symbols unto themselves. "When we do our artwork, we think of what's happened in the past, in the future, and what's happening now." How these First Nations artists use symbols in their work 3 days ago As part of CBC B.C.'s search for the best symbol in the province, The Early Edition spoke to two artists from First Nations in the province about how they use symbols in their work. Xwalacktun is a sculptor and carver from the Squamish and 'Namgis nations, and he says symbols can represent the past, present and future for First Nations. Kym Gouchie is a Juno-nominated children's musician from the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation who says her music is inspired by the rivers and ancient forests that define her nation's territory. Symbols, but also 'artificial constructs' Coast Salish art is often included within the genre of "northwest coast art," a catch-all way to describe commonalities between artwork created by different First Nations along the Alaska, British Columbia and Washington coast. But as Museum of Anthropology curator Jordan Wilson notes, terms like "Northwest Coast Art" or "Totem Poles" were colonial impositions: the northwest coast spans dozens of different First Nations. The word totem comes from the Ojibwe language, from the Anishinaabe people who historically resided near the Great Lakes, thousands of kilometres away. "It's like this artificial construct," he said. "They connect to a history of anthropology, a history of northwest coast art history, but then also a history of tourism and the construction of a distinctive Canadian and British Columbian identity." It makes it ironic — and perhaps controversial, depending on your perspective — that after tens of thousands of votes, these two symbols remain as the two coastal finalists in The Search for B.C.'s Best Symbol. Only one will move on to the semifinals next week. But at their core, Wilson hopes people remember where these symbols came from and originally reflected. "These abstract, beautiful objects that can be admired," he said, "while losing sight of the fact that they're very much connected to our political lives, our social lives and ceremonial lives." As the Search for B.C.'s Best Symbol nears its conclusion, we talk about the significance of totems 8 days ago CBC is in the third week of our search for B.C.'s Best Symbol. In the coastal quadrant vying for the top spot are totems, Nanaimo bars, Northwest Coast art, and Cowichan sweaters. Nisga'a and Tlingit totem pole carver and visual artist Mike Dangeli dives into the rich history and living culture of totem pole carving in B.C.
ABC News
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Country to Couture fashion show puts First Nations artists in spotlight
This week marks the 10th anniversary of Darwin's biggest fashion show, Country to Couture, with the event shining a spotlight on some of Australia's finest First Nations artists. Twenty collections were featured across two sold-out runway shows, with more than 80 artists involved in their creation — from independent creatives to established brands and those who have developed their work through community art centres. Claire Summers, executive director of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation, which established the Country to Couture event, said it "started with very humble beginnings and has now turned into a spectacular". Reflecting on its origins, Ms Summers said the Country to Couture runway shows were "borne out of a re-emergence of textile designs" across the country following the global financial crisis. "A lot of art centres found that they needed to diversify what they were doing to be able to reach new audiences," Ms Summers said. "What we saw was art centres taking on textile design as part of their core business and part of the mediums that they were supporting artists to work on out in community. "Before long, the art centres started to say to us, 'We need somewhere to be able to showcase and celebrate our beautiful textiles. We want a runway.' "So, back in 2016, in the heart of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, nestled amongst all the art booths, we had our very first Country to Couture runway." Ms Summers said in large part, Country to Couture aimed to "make a great bridge" between textile fashion design and the "fine art market". Here's a look at this year's collections. SHOW 1 Murrgan by Girringun Aborignal Art Centre Nugal Biik (Belongs to Country) by Simone Thomson Echoes of the Tide by Jarli (Designers: Corina Jadai for her brand) Garkambarryirri (Daybreak) by Bula'bula Arts x Black Cat Couture Nguramban-Dhi (From Country) by Corella & Crow (Designers: Rechelle Turner and Megan Daley) Warrajamba - A Mermaid in the Bay by Delvene Cockatoo-Collins Maju Karlaj (sister sister) by KingKing Creative (Designers: Sarrita King and Tarisse King) Connection to Taam (Country) by Nangarri Designs (Designer: Rowena Morgan) Biik by Yanggurdi (Designer: Cassie Leatham) SHOW TWO Milky Water by Jaru Girl Designs Return to Country by Mowanjum Arts and Cultural Centre x PaletTheory Pirriya by Tjarlirli & Kaltukatjara Art Kanyarra by Goompi's Girl (Designer: Nicole Enoch-Chatfield) Tabilbahn Yunggulba (Saltwater Tidal) by Sandra and Shara Delaney Magpie Goose x Quandamooka Artists Fire in the Sky by Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct Tjindu (Sun) by Eleraze Creatives (Designers: Sonya Coleman, Sonearae Bilney, Tallulah Bilney) Jarndunil / Saheli Yagarramaguranjin (women / friends are creating together) by Nagula Jarndu Designs Sunset Healing by Mimmim x TATIA (Designers: Mim Cole and Tatiana Hoffmann) Butterfly Kisses by Simone Arnol
SBS Australia
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Darrel Sibosado Brings his Artistic Eye to Bangarra's Illume
NITV Radio speaks with Darrell Sibosado, a Bard man from Lombadina by the Dampier Peninsula of the Kimberley coast, Western Australia. In their first time working with a First Nations visual artist, Bangarra Dance Theatre's Illume will have Darrell as an artist and cultural collaborator to bring the story of Country to life. "with this work, lighting is a big part of it, and its trying to reflect my visual arts practice and at the same time give an essence or feel of my Country." Bangarra Dance Theatres Illume will be touring nationally, from the 4th June to 13th September.
