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June 9 , 2008
Major Coast Salish artwork joins totem site in
Stanley Park
Three carved portals by prominent Coast Salish artist Susan Point were
officially unveiled today in Stanley Park at the Brockton Point totem
site.
Entitled People Amongst the People, the 15 to 17-foot-high
portals are a welcome from the Coast Salish to visitors of Stanley Park,
the totem site, and the traditional lands of the Coast Salish people.
This installation is of particular significance to the Musqueam, Squamish,
and Tsleil-Waututh people, who currently have no artwork represented
among the totem poles at Brockton Point. The three Nations cooperated
in the selection and celebration of this work.
The intricate works, which were three years in the making, were commissioned
by the City of Vancouver’s Public Art Program, and developed through
collaborative efforts with Coast Salish Arts; Vancouver Storyscapes,
a City Social Planning project that encouraged aboriginal people to share
their stories through a variety of media; the Musqueam, Squamish, and
Tsleil-Watuth First Nations, and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.
Susan Point is a Coast Salish artist living on the Musqueam reserve in
Vancouver. She has completed numerous public and private commissions
including major works for the Vancouver International Airport and for
the Smithsonian institute in Washington, DC.
The City of Vancouver Public Art Program encourages and supports opportunities
for artists to incorporate contemporary art practices into City and private
sector planning. The Program funds art-making of many kinds to provide
for the creation of art that expresses the spirit, values, visions, and
poetry of place that collectively define Vancouver.
People Amongst the People
By Susan Point
All of the imagery used for the artwork draws on central Coast Salish
design elements. People Amongst the People’s three portals are:
Male and Female
Welcome Figures
These three carved pieces frame the view of the original totem poles,
creating a grand entrance to the site. In a traditional Salish gesture
of welcome, the figures of these two upright poles greet visitors with
raised, outstretched hands. Both figures wear Salish blankets incorporating
weaving designs and a salmon motif. The male upright has traditional
design elements carved on the back. The reverse side of the female upright
uses a motif influenced by Salish berry basket designs, and honours the
skills of Salish ancestors.
Grandparents and Grandchildren
On the southwest side of the totems are figures of grandparents and
grandchildren on the upright poles. An intertwined braid of hair links
the three female faces of the grandparents pole, illustrating the powerful
matrilineal links running through Salish generations. The abstract design
on the back of the pole represents the salmon that were once so plentiful
in the area and so important in the lives of the Salish. The grandchildren
upright also pays tribute to the importance of the family bond within
Salish culture. The reverse side features a carved herring design that
reflects the living culture in the area as it has been transformed through
history.
Salish Dancer and Killer Whale
The third portal is visible from the seawall and park drive just north
of the totem pole site. The Salish Dancer upright shows a human
figure holding a sea serpent rattle and serves as a reminder of the
strength and ongoing evolution of Salish design. Above it is the Thunderbird,
the most powerful of all spirits, and a symbol of protection. The tree
roots on the opposite face of the upright remind us of our connection
to the land, sea and sky. The Killer Whale upright depicts five
whales, each with a raven fin and salmon pectoral. Humans and
orcas are believed to be closely linked, and that when great chiefs
die, they become killer whales. The reverse side displays a boldly
coloured Salish design. The crossbeam is carved with a Salish textile
motif.
For more information:
Corporate
Communications
604.871.6336
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