Gitxsan artist Michelle Stoney of Gitanmaax was at the Terrace Art Gallery to mentor youth in Northwest Coast styles of artwork this fall, and there’s a lot for students to look forward to coming up in the new year.
Her visit was part of a partnership with schools to get students excited about art, learn about First Nations culture, connect with Indigenous heritage and showcase their work out in the community.
“The first day I went into the classroom at the high school. It was a pretty full class and I did a little artist talk on how I became an artist and then we did a little form-line introduction on how images are made,” said Stoney.
“The first day we painted everybody was excited and we got a lot done.”
Formline is the designs used in Northwest Coast art, she explained. Circles and shapes are a base for the designs centered around an oval that she describes as the shape of a squished salmon egg.
“All the shapes are really based off of nature traditionally. We put some collaborations together. This is my last day here and we’re going to design a few more salmon and show them how I do my paintings to get them thinking about different artist’s approached and artist’s processes. Doing art is one of the best ways to connect with your culture.”
Laura McGregor, art gallery coordinator, explained the project is part of the Skeena Salmon Arts Festival Society’s Grand Trunk Pathway Migration project, and students can continue the program into the new year.
Last year’s program was a big hit, with students proudly displaying their art, that was designed by Gitxan and Nisga’a artist Jaimie Davis, along the millennium trail this summer. Terrace residents can look forward to seeing more Northwest Coast style salmon artwork while walking the trail next year.
“The idea is to have all kinds of salmon swimming along the millennium pathway here in Terrace,” she said.
The concept has become a popular among students and has expanded into communities around the northwest such as the Nisga’a village of Gitlax̱t’aamiks in the Nass Valley, since starting six years ago.
“Now with Salmon Fest instead of looking at the Skeena Watershed we also look at the Nass River, so it’s expanded the whole idea of the art society now,” said McGregor, adding that she loves to see youth connecting with mentors, and thinking seriously about careers in the arts.
“The students are super proud when they show their work with the art gallery or out in the community.”
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