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Originally from Seabird Island, B.C., Ovila Mailhot is a self-taught artist with roots in the Nlaka'pamux and Sto:lo Nation. He has built a burgeoning design career, creating logos and other artwork inspired by the traditions of his people for Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses and for several apparel companies.
Ovila has always wanted to represent where he is from, his culture, and his community. Learning more about the ancestral elements of Coast Salish art history helps him find ways to show who he is and where he’s from.
“Art feels vital to me. And being able to share that passion I have is important to me. This tradition of work, and this beauty, is so necessary for our culture and healing.”
webEagles and the Sun Ovila Mailhot (Nlaka'pamux / Sto:lo Nation) The sun radiates healing and peace. The Eagles are messengers, carrying our prayers to the Creator. The Eagle is the one creature that flies highest closest to the Creator.
This year, we are moving back closer to nature. Like the graceful birds that take to the skies, and the steady sun that brings us life, let’s imagine ourselves lost in the beautiful, natural world all around us, and let’s find ourselves facing warmth and hope. Artist Talk | Eagles and the Sun George Littlechild was born in Alberta, the son of a Plains Cree mother and a Celtic father, and raised in Edmonton. He was part of the Sixties Scoop.
Littlechild received a diploma in art and design from Red Deer College in 1984, and a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, in 1988. His mixed-media paintings are often socially charged in response to political movements, societal concerns such as reconciliation and reclamation, as well as personal history. George has exhibited in galleries around the world, and his art is in several important collections.
"I am committed to righting the wrongs that First Nations peoples have endured by creating art that focuses on cultural, social and political injustices. As an artist, educator and cultural worker, my goal is a better world. It is my job to show the pride, strength and beauty of First Nations people and cultures, and contribute to the betterment of mankind." webA Cathedral of Colour for a Matriarch George Littlechild (Cree First Nations) The sun radiates healing and peace. The Eagles are messengers, carrying our prayers to the Creator. The Eagle is the one creature that flies highest closest to the Creator.
This year, we are moving back closer to nature. Like the graceful birds that take to the skies, and the steady sun that brings us life, let’s imagine ourselves lost in the beautiful, natural world all around us, and let’s find ourselves facing warmth and hope. The name Walis Labai comes from his grandfather (Danaha Walis) and his mother (Labai Danaha). During a family gathering, his grandfather and two uncles drew lots written in Japanese and drank wine, and that is how the name came to be. Walis Labai’s father, of Jiangsu, China, did not know about this naming by his grandfather.
His grandfather’s feet are a legend in the tribe. He can cross several hills barefoot and go back and forth to the hunting ground in a day, just to feed and clothe the family. “He has always been the spirit of the mountain that I adored.”
Walis Labai’s life philosophies: let go of excess desire, live with contentment, and do good deeds. Take a step back and look at the horizon, choose only the bright side of life.
Walis Labai’s list of good things that will bring you infinite inspiration: The blue sky and white clouds on the eastern coastline The bright moon hanging like a tulle over the picturesque sea travel travel travel travel travel travel travel travel travel travel travel travel all over sparking of flames and drifting of smoke webTree-Born People Series Walis Labai These works are created by using image processing software on the computer to combine people’s portraits and various images of trees. The image synthesis presents a series of two-dimensional works with movie-like special effects. This series is inspired by the legends and myths of the “Tree-Born,” a unique story to the Seediq culture. It conveys to modern society the innocence and purity of the natural world, and urges the return to the endlessly caring heart of nature. Arucangli Rusagelet is a Paiwan artist of the Wutan tribe in Taiwu Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan. He has suffered from polio since childhood. Among contemporary Taiwanese aboriginal artists, he has developed a unique creative perspective due to the physical limitations of his body. He is known for telling stories from the heart through his layered brushstrokes.
He is someone who likes to joke, with an optimistic attitude towards his life. While polio has made many aspects of his life inconvenient, through conversing with him, one can feel the strength and freedom in his every breath. He describes his deformed limbs as similar to the hundred-foot snake, and so his studio is named “The Sky of the Hundred-foot Snake Studio.” This is where he immerses himself, painting quietly for most of the day.
His persistence overcomes the limitations of the body, and on his own he has developed a style that conveys the profound warmth of Paiwan culture and the ancestral spirits. His paintings not only present a sense of visual delicacy, but also tension and mystery, leading people to explore their own hearts and souls. Bewildered Arcucangli Rusaglet This is a dialogue between tradition and modernity Two different atmospheres and perspectives— One, to cherish culture; one, to betray culture…
When black and white are stained with colour when tradition is replaced by modernity what will you leave behind? Culture changes with the times the footprints of the ancestors are gradually forgotten. In this era of rapid change this time-weary heart how much longer can it last? And the young at heart how much pressure can you bear? I am bewildered sighing softly in the night; Because tradition and modernity there is no right or wrong. Only the beauty of traditional culture will eventually be taken by the wave of modernity to a new place entirely And a few more footprints of the ancestors will be left behind for the people in the future to remember.
Click Here Originally from Seabird Island, B.C., Ovila Mailhot is a self-taught artist with roots in the Nlaka'pamux and Sto:lo Nation. He has built a burgeoning design career, creating logos and other artwork inspired by the traditions of his people for Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses and for several apparel companies.
Ovila has always wanted to represent where he is from, his culture, and his community. Learning more about the ancestral elements of Coast Salish art history helps him find ways to show who he is and where he’s from.
“Art feels vital to me. And being able to share that passion I have is important to me. This tradition of work, and this beauty, is so necessary for our culture and healing.” The sun radiates healing and peace. The Eagles are messengers, carrying our prayers to the Creator. The Eagle is the one creature that flies highest closest to the Creator.
This year, we are moving back closer to nature. Like the graceful birds that take to the skies, and the steady sun that brings us life, let’s imagine ourselves lost in the beautiful, natural world all around us, and let’s find ourselves facing warmth and hope. Eagles and the Sun Ovila Mailhot (Nlaka'pamux / Sto:lo Nation) webGeorge Littlechild and his partner John has an amazing garden full of gorgeous flowers, fruits, and vegetables. It brings so much life and love to their lives.
One day, he thought that he wanted to merge the garden spirit with some of his favourite people, alive and passed, so he created The Garden series. This particular piece honours his late Cree Auntie Helen (Littlechild) Omeasoo, who left the reserve in Alberta and lived in Burnaby, BC, for years.
Nature embraces us just as we embrace nature. In a garden grown with love, we find the vitality of family, living on and continuing to grow under the sun. webA Cathedral of Colour for a Matriarch George Littlechild (Cree First Nations) George Littlechild was born in Alberta, the son of a Plains Cree mother and a Celtic father, and raised in Edmonton. He was part of the Sixties Scoop.
Littlechild received a diploma in art and design from Red Deer College in 1984, and a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, in 1988. His mixed-media paintings are often socially charged in response to political movements, societal concerns such as reconciliation and reclamation, as well as personal history. George has exhibited in galleries around the world, and his art is in several important collections.
"I am committed to righting the wrongs that First Nations peoples have endured by creating art that focuses on cultural, social and political injustices. As an artist, educator and cultural worker, my goal is a better world. It is my job to show the pride, strength and beauty of First Nations people and cultures, and contribute to the betterment of mankind." The name Walis Labai comes from his grandfather (Danaha Walis) and his mother (Labai Danaha). During a family gathering, his grandfather and two uncles drew lots written in Japanese and drank wine, and that is how the name came to be. Walis Labai’s father, of Jiangsu, China, did not know about this naming by his grandfather.
His grandfather’s feet are a legend in the tribe. He can cross several hills barefoot and go back and forth to the hunting ground in a day, just to feed and clothe the family. “He has always been the spirit of the mountain that I adored.”
Walis Labai’s life philosophies: let go of excess desire, live with contentment, and do good deeds. Take a step back and look at the horizon, choose only the bright side of life.
Walis Labai’s list of good things that will bring you infinite inspiration: The blue sky and white clouds on the eastern coastline The bright moon hanging like a tulle over the picturesque sea travel travel travel travel travel travel travel travel travel travel travel travel all over sparking of flames and drifting of smoke webTree-Born People Series Walis Labai (Seediq Tribe) These works are created by using image processing software on the computer to combine people’s portraits and various images of trees. The image synthesis presents a series of two-dimensional works with movie-like special effects. This series is inspired by the legends and myths of the “Tree-Born,” a unique story to the Seediq culture. It conveys to modern society the innocence and purity of the natural world, and urges the return to the endlessly caring heart of nature. Bewildered Arcucangli Rusaglet (Paiwan Tribe) This is a dialogue between tradition and modernity Two different atmospheres and perspectives— One, to cherish culture; one, to betray culture…
When black and white are stained with colour when tradition is replaced by modernity what will you leave behind? Culture changes with the times the footprints of the ancestors are gradually forgotten. In this era of rapid change this time-weary heart how much longer can it last? And the young at heart how much pressure can you bear? I am bewildered sighing softly in the night; Because tradition and modernity there is no right or wrong. Only the beauty of traditional culture will eventually be taken by the wave of modernity to a new place entirely And a few more footprints of the ancestors will be left behind for the people in the future to remember. Arucangli Rusagelet is a Paiwan artist of the Wutan tribe in Taiwu Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan. He has suffered from polio since childhood. Among contemporary Taiwanese aboriginal artists, he has developed a unique creative perspective due to the physical limitations of his body. He is known for telling stories from the heart through his layered brushstrokes.
He is someone who likes to joke, with an optimistic attitude towards his life. While polio has made many aspects of his life inconvenient, through conversing with him, one can feel the strength and freedom in his every breath. He describes his deformed limbs as similar to the hundred-foot snake, and so his studio is named “The Sky of the Hundred-foot Snake Studio.” This is where he immerses himself, painting quietly for most of the day.
His persistence overcomes the limitations of the body, and on his own he has developed a style that conveys the profound warmth of Paiwan culture and the ancestral spirits. His paintings not only present a sense of visual delicacy, but also tension and mystery, leading people to explore their own hearts and souls.