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Granville Island
Ocean Artworks
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Richard Hunt was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia, in 1951 but has lived most of his life in Victoria. He began carving with his father, the late Henry Hunt, at the age of thirteen. In 1973, Richard began work at the Royal British Columbia Museum as an apprentice carver under his father, Henry Hunt. The following year he assumed the duties of chief carver in the Thunderbird Park Carving Program. He remained in the museum in that capacity for twelve years. In 1986, Richard resigned to begin a new career as a freelance artist.
Richard comes from a family of internationally respected artists, which include his father, Henry Hunt, and his grandfather, Mungo Martin. Richard Hunt received the Order of British Columbia. Richard is the first native artist to be recognized. He also received the most prestigious award of his career, The Order of Canada. Richard has received the Golden Jubilee Medal and an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria. This prestigious award has a special meaning to Richard because his late father, Henry Hunt was awarded the same degree in 1983.
Richard Hunt’s Indian name is highly appropriate, considering his accomplishments. Gwe-la-yo-gwe-la-gya-les means “a man that travels around the world giving.” Through his art, and his dancing, Richard Hunt has indeed given much to the world. webVictoria Richard Hunt (Kwakwaka'wakw) At the top of the painting is the Olympic Coastal Range in the form of an octopus with its tentacles outstretched. The head of the octopus forms the cone of the Parliament Buildings. In the background is the Salish Sea.
On the right is a bear, on the Causeway in front of the Empress Hotel. The bear totem pole that is situated there was carved by the artist’s dad, Henry Hunt. “Dad was a great man and a great carver, and together with my mom, Helen, they had 14 children.”
On the left, is a killer whale and a thunderbird, which also represents the ivy killer whale at the north end of the Empress Hotel. The killer whale represents the spirits of our deceased family members, and it is the favourite food of the thunderbird.
The canoe at the bottom represents the boats in the Inner Harbour. “Our people travelled by canoe, and we still do today.” On board the canoe, is a wolf, an eagle and a man steering the canoe.
Finally, there is the raven dancing on the lawn of the Legislature. All these figures belong to the Kwaguilth people of Fort Rupert, B.C. Artist Talk | Victoria Rachel Smith ai̓xcemǧa was born in Nanaimo B.C. on Vancouver Island. At a young age, her family moved to Vancouver where she grew up and is currently based. Rachel is proud of her diverse and rich cultural heritage. She has connections to Kwakwa’kawakw and Wuikinuxv First Nations on her father’s side and is connected to her Greek heritage on her mother’s side.
Rachel grew up watching her grandfather, father, and uncle carving and painting. Although she has been immersed in Northwest Coast art all her life, she has more recently begun a formal career with her own art and imagery. She apprenticed with her father, Steve Smith, and she introduced her first pieces to the public in 2019.
Rachel takes inspiration from her passion for education and Indigenous rights and values, as well as her love of the natural world. Rachel enjoys weaving traditional Northwest Coast formline elements in with contemporary and minimalist aesthetics. She delights in the creative process and is guided by a desire to respectfully carry forward the tradition of art in her family while expressing herself and her stories through art.
Rachel has completed her Associate of Arts degree in Peace and Conflict Studies and is currently a student at the University of British Columbia pursuing a Bachelor of Education Degree in the Arts Based and Creativity cohort, with an Indigenous specialization in NITEP, the Indigenous Teacher Education Program in The Faculty of Education. webBright Days Ahead Rachel Smith (Kwakwaka'wakw, Oweekeno) In this piece, both salmon eggs and mature salmon heads are playfully represented, symbolizing the vibrancy and strength of each generation. This design celebrates their life-cycle and the passing of strength, determination and knowledge from one generation to the next.
With each cycle, we look forward to the possibility of bright days ahead together Jessie Sohpaul is a multidisciplinary artist based out of Vancouver. Sohpaul’s work is heavily influenced by his experience as a first generation born into a Punjabi immigrant family. Sohpaul draws from street art as well as traditional South Asian visual metaphors and scripts. Working with traditional and digital media, he strives to capture the energy and strength that he grew up around. webDancing Under the Sun Jessie Sohpaul (South Asian Canadian) The dance in this work showcases the traditional Punjabi dance known as “Kiklee”. The dancers are full of hope as they move through their routine underneath the warmth of the sun. It captures a youthful energy that is carried throughout the entire piece.
Drawing on the brightness of the sun and the joy of the young dancers, let’s swing and twirl and imagine another year full of delight! Artist Talk | Dancing Under the Sun Arts Umbrella is a non-profit organization where young artists cultivate creativity through Dance, Theatre, and Visual Arts programs. Since 1979, they have opened the doors to arts education for all kids, from pre-schoolers to pre-professionals. Arts Umbrella reaches more than 24,000 young people annually across Metro Vancouver, with 80% served through bursaries, scholarships, and donor-funded community programs. webThe Forest of my Dreams Arts Umbrella (Non-profit Youth Arts Organization) This year, students in the School of Art & Design participated in a three-week Drawing & Painting Summer Intensive to produce three works for 2023 The Lantern City project. Students in the 13-15 years old cohort were led by Facilitating Artist Manjot Kaur and Assistant Artist Brooke Belasic to produce “The Forest of my Dreams”, while those in the 15-19 year old group were led by Facilitating Artist Emily Nguyen and Assistant Artist Owen Caddell to produce “Abstract Shapes” and “Rabbits”. Arts Umbrella is a non-profit organization where young artists cultivate creativity through Dance, Theatre, and Visual Arts programs. Since 1979, they have opened the doors to arts education for all kids, from pre-schoolers to pre-professionals. Arts Umbrella reaches more than 24,000 young people annually across Metro Vancouver, with 80% served through bursaries, scholarships, and donor-funded community programs. webAbstract Shapes Arts Umbrella (Non-profit Youth Arts Organization) This year, students in the School of Art & Design participated in a three-week Drawing & Painting Summer Intensive to produce three works for 2023 The Lantern City project. Students in the 13-15 years old cohort were led by Facilitating Artist Manjot Kaur and Assistant Artist Brooke Belasic to produce “The Forest of my Dreams”, while those in the 15-19 year old group were led by Facilitating Artist Emily Nguyen and Assistant Artist Owen Caddell to produce “Abstract Shapes” and “Rabbits”. Arts Umbrella is a non-profit organization where young artists cultivate creativity through Dance, Theatre, and Visual Arts programs. Since 1979, they have opened the doors to arts education for all kids, from pre-schoolers to pre-professionals. Arts Umbrella reaches more than 24,000 young people annually across Metro Vancouver, with 80% served through bursaries, scholarships, and donor-funded community programs. webRabbits Arts Umbrella (Non-profit Youth Arts Organization) This year, students in the School of Art & Design participated in a three-week Drawing & Painting Summer Intensive to produce three works for 2023 The Lantern City project. Students in the 13-15 years old cohort were led by Facilitating Artist Manjot Kaur and Assistant Artist Brooke Belasic to produce “The Forest of my Dreams”, while those in the 15-19 year old group were led by Facilitating Artist Emily Nguyen and Assistant Artist Owen Caddell to produce “Abstract Shapes” and “Rabbits”.
Click Here Richard Hunt was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia, in 1951 but has lived most of his life in Victoria. He began carving with his father, the late Henry Hunt, at the age of thirteen. In 1973, Richard began work at the Royal British Columbia Museum as an apprentice carver under his father, Henry Hunt. The following year he assumed the duties of chief carver in the Thunderbird Park Carving Program. He remained in the museum in that capacity for twelve years. In 1986, Richard resigned to begin a new career as a freelance artist.
Richard comes from a family of internationally respected artists, which include his father, Henry Hunt, and his grandfather, Mungo Martin. Richard Hunt received the Order of British Columbia. Richard is the first native artist to be recognized. He also received the most prestigious award of his career, The Order of Canada. Richard has received the Golden Jubilee Medal and an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria. This prestigious award has a special meaning to Richard because his late father, Henry Hunt was awarded the same degree in 1983.
Richard Hunt’s Indian name is highly appropriate, considering his accomplishments. Gwe-la-yo-gwe-la-gya-les means “a man that travels around the world giving.” Through his art, and his dancing, Richard Hunt has indeed given much to the world. webVictoria Richard Hunt (Kwakwaka'wakw) At the top of the painting is the Olympic Coastal Range in the form of an octopus with its tentacles outstretched. The head of the octopus forms the cone of the Parliament Buildings. In the background is the Salish Sea.
On the right is a bear, on the Causeway in front of the Empress Hotel. The bear totem pole that is situated there was carved by the artist’s dad, Henry Hunt. “Dad was a great man and a great carver, and together with my mom, Helen, they had 14 children.”
On the left, is a killer whale and a thunderbird, which also represents the ivy killer whale at the north end of the Empress Hotel. The killer whale represents the spirits of our deceased family members, and it is the favourite food of the thunderbird.
The canoe at the bottom represents the boats in the Inner Harbour. “Our people travelled by canoe, and we still do today.” On board the canoe, is a wolf, an eagle and a man steering the canoe.
Finally, there is the raven dancing on the lawn of the Legislature. All these figures belong to the Kwaguilth people of Fort Rupert, B.C. Rachel Smith ai̓xcemǧa was born in Nanaimo B.C. on Vancouver Island. At a young age, her family moved to Vancouver where she grew up and is currently based. Rachel is proud of her diverse and rich cultural heritage. She has connections to Kwakwa’kawakw and Wuikinuxv First Nations on her father’s side and is connected to her Greek heritage on her mother’s side.
Rachel grew up watching her grandfather, father, and uncle carving and painting. Although she has been immersed in Northwest Coast art all her life, she has more recently begun a formal career with her own art and imagery. She apprenticed with her father, Steve Smith, and she introduced her first pieces to the public in 2019.
Rachel takes inspiration from her passion for education and Indigenous rights and values, as well as her love of the natural world. Rachel enjoys weaving traditional Northwest Coast formline elements in with contemporary and minimalist aesthetics. She delights in the creative process and is guided by a desire to respectfully carry forward the tradition of art in her family while expressing herself and her stories through art.
Rachel has completed her Associate of Arts degree in Peace and Conflict Studies and is currently a student at the University of British Columbia pursuing a Bachelor of Education Degree in the Arts Based and Creativity cohort, with an Indigenous specialization in NITEP, the Indigenous Teacher Education Program in The Faculty of Education. webBright Days Ahead Rachel Smith
(Kwakwaka'wakw, Oweekeno) In this piece, both salmon eggs and mature salmon heads are playfully represented, symbolizing the vibrancy and strength of each generation. This design celebrates their life-cycle and the passing of strength, determination and knowledge from one generation to the next.
With each cycle, we look forward to the possibility of bright days ahead together The dance in this work showcases the traditional Punjabi dance known as “Kiklee”. The dancers are full of hope as they move through their routine underneath the warmth of the sun. It captures a youthful energy that is carried throughout the entire piece.
Drawing on the brightness of the sun and the joy of the young dancers, let’s swing and twirl and imagine another year full of delight! webDancing Under the Sun Jessie Sohpaul (South Asian Canadian) Jessie Sohpaul is a multidisciplinary artist based out of Vancouver. Sohpaul’s work is heavily influenced by his experience as a first generation born into a Punjabi immigrant family. Sohpaul draws from street art as well as traditional South Asian visual metaphors and scripts. Working with traditional and digital media, he strives to capture the energy and strength that he grew up around. Click Here webThe Forest of My Dreams Arts Umbrella (Non-profit Youth Arts Organization) This year, students in the School of Art & Design participated in a three-week Drawing & Painting Summer Intensive to produce three works for 2023 The Lantern City project. Students in the 13-15 years old cohort were led by Facilitating Artist Manjot Kaur and Assistant Artist Brooke Belasic to produce “The Forest of my Dreams”, while those in the 15-19 year old group were led by Facilitating Artist Emily Nguyen and Assistant Artist Owen Caddell to produce “Abstract Shapes” and “Rabbits”. webAbstract Shapes Arts Umbrella (Non-profit Youth Arts Organization) This year, students in the School of Art & Design participated in a three-week Drawing & Painting Summer Intensive to produce three works for 2023 The Lantern City project. Students in the 13-15 years old cohort were led by Facilitating Artist Manjot Kaur and Assistant Artist Brooke Belasic to produce “The Forest of my Dreams”, while those in the 15-19 year old group were led by Facilitating Artist Emily Nguyen and Assistant Artist Owen Caddell to produce “Abstract Shapes” and “Rabbits”. webRabbits Arts Umbrella (Non-profit Youth Arts Organization) This year, students in the School of Art & Design participated in a three-week Drawing & Painting Summer Intensive to produce three works for 2023 The Lantern City project. Students in the 13-15 years old cohort were led by Facilitating Artist Manjot Kaur and Assistant Artist Brooke Belasic to produce “The Forest of my Dreams”, while those in the 15-19 year old group were led by Facilitating Artist Emily Nguyen and Assistant Artist Owen Caddell to produce “Abstract Shapes” and “Rabbits”. Ticket Info