January 2012

The Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver has received a gift from Dr. Sydney Friedman and his late wife Constance, of their collection of twelve artworks by Haida artist Bill Reid. The work illustrated above, an complex hinged gold bracelet in the form of a raven, with curving outlines of feathered wings, dates from 1955. The [Read more]

Victoria Collects: A View into Private Art Collections from the Region is a series of shows at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, showing art by major artists, from Piet Mondrian to Andy Warhol to E. J. Hughes. A section of the project, Victoria Collects: The Salish Weave Collection focuses on works by contemporary Coast [Read more]

In September 2009 Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that Canada had no history of Colonialism. The (official denial) trade value in progress project, curated by Jaimie Isaac and initiated by artist Leah Decter, challenges that statement with responses from First Nations people, sewn onto Hudson’s Bay blankets at sites across Canada. (See The Beat November [Read more]

The Portland Art Museum in Oregon has appointed Deana Dartt-Newton (Chumash) Curator of Native American Art. She is on leave from her curatorial position at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture for at least a year. Dr. Dartt-Newton began her work at PAM on January 2, 2012; she plans to focus first on [Read more]

The Canada Council for the Arts has awarded Haida weaver Lisa Hageman Yahgulanaas an artist residency at the International Residencies Program in the Visual Arts. The residency, located at La Cite Internationale des Arts in the heart of Paris France, began this January and runs until April 2012. Ms Hageman Yahgulanaas was awarded the residency [Read more]

A companion feature to the larger exhibition Hungry Planet at the Burke Museum in Seattle is opening on January 28 to June 10 2012. The new display, Salish Bounty: Traditional Native American Foods of Puget Sound, is co-curated by Burke Museum archaeologists and members of the Coast Salish community. The museum states: “Knowledge of Coast [Read more]

The Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC has commissioned Tsimshian carver David Boxley and his son David Boxley Jr. to create a 22.5 ft totem pole for the museum’s Potomac Atrium. The Boxleys are currently completing and painting the pole in the museum atrium. The pole depicts the story of a young man [Read more]

Appleton Galleries at 1644 West 75th Avenue in Vancouver is holding its winter sale. To contact the gallery, call 604-685-1715. http://appletongalleries.com/sale

Vancouver businessman and art collector Bob Rennie has donated a recent work by artist Brian Jungen to the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa; Court is currently on view in the NGC contemporary galleries, and will remain there for at least a year. The Rennie Collection describes Court as “an important work that deals with [Read more]

The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler is holding workshops in traditional native skills. The current exhibition at the centre is Lil’wat Weaving Wisdom. The January schedule is at the Centre’s website at http://www.slcc.ca

Chatwilh / The Craft and Culture of the Squamish Canoe continues until May 21 2012. For more information see http://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com

The YVR Art Foundation annually awards five scholarships to young First Nations artists. It has announced its January 31 2012 deadline for applications. Among past winners were Todd Stephens, Cherish Alexander, Gwaliga Hart, Bryan Joe and Latham Mack. For scholarship information and application forms, contact the program coordinator Rita Beiks at yvraf@shaw.ca or 604 873 [Read more]