One of the last provinces in Canada to be settled by European explorers, British Columbia is home to total of twenty-seven distinct First Nations with more than two-hundred communities with eight different language groups throughout British Columbia and Vancouver Island(1).
There are tremendous numbers of talented visual artists that come from throughout British Columbia. The elaborate and detailed totem poles are world renowned and an infamous cultural icon that represents a significant contribution to the visual art community.
Two well-known and sadly deceased Aboriginal carvers, painters and jewelry makers are the late Bill Read from the Haida nation and the late Art Thompson with Nuu-chah-nulth/Cowichan ancestry. Bill is a pioneer revivalist and champion for bringing his sculpting talents to the forefront with major carving projects and permanent installations of his work throughout the world. Bringing his ancestral carving talents of the Haida back from the brink of extinction was the topic of a 1958 CBC Television documentary Bill wrote and narrated. With five honorary doctoral degrees and several prestigious awards, including the 1994 Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement from the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, Bill Reid has graced us with his larger than life size works of art we can all be proud of(6). Art Thompson, a survivor of the Alberni Residential School and he eventually ran away from at the age of thirteen and found a job in the logging industry. Art eventually discovered his calling as an artist and studied art in 1967 at Camosun College in Victoria, BC. His carving, prints and silversmith jewelry skills are known the world over with commissions for totem poles and panels. For the 1994 Commonwealth Games, Art Thompson designed both the Queen’s Baton used in the opening ceremonies as well as the medals awarded to the athletes at the games. In 2000, was honored by his peers with an Arts and Cultural National Aboriginal Achievement Award(7). Though Art Thompson has passed on, his work and contributions to the art world will live on forever.
This article is a non-comprehensive and living document that provides an overview of artistic activities in the region. It will be revised as necessary as part of our ongoing process of continuous updates.
1) http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/abed/map.htm
6) http://www.naaf.ca/html/b_reid_e.html
7) http://www.naaf.ca/html/a_thompson_e.html