2023 Year of the Rabbit
Lantern Stories
šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square
North of the Vancouver Art Gallery
Peaceful and Free Together
Phyllis Poitras-Jarrett
Rabbits live on every corner of this great land we call Turtle Island, the Indigenous name for North America. They are represented in stories as tricksters to teach valuable lessons. In our stories and in our backyards, these creatures keep us company.
The Métis people are known as the “Flower Beadwork People”. We are joyful and happy like the rabbit. The rabbits in this work are decorated with intricate Métis beadwork designs. Each bead, flower and animal are a part of something greater. There is a glass spirit bead hidden—in traditional Métis beadwork, it is an off-colour or misplaced bead. The spirit bead symbolizes humility and it reminds us: humans are not perfect. Therefore, we need to learn to be mindful that each day is an opportunity to make improvements in ourselves for the betterment of “All of Our Relations”.
In Asian culture, 2023 is the Year of the “Water” Rabbit. Natural elements and animal motifs are important to Indigenous culture. This work acknowledges the Seven Grandfather Teachings: a belief system providing structure and guidance so one can live a life that is balanced mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Like the rabbits we strive for hope, peace, equality and balance for all living things. Life is better together!
The Eve
Arty Guava / Lay Hoon
Imagine the scene: the eve of the Lunar New Year, the tiger performing the last dance before the rabbits usher in the new year. It is a huge celebration where everyone is invited to dance and be merry.
People gather from everywhere,
Striking poses like they just don’t care,
Everyone is invited,
Even the tiger and the hare.
Phulkari Forest
Angela Aujla
Phulkari Forest is a dynamic, dreamlike tapestry featuring local wildlife and botanicals – busy hummingbirds, determined salmon, a bounding rabbit, and cherry blossoms float and flow over the lantern. The shapes are inlaid with photographs the artist has taken of Punjabi phulkari textile to reflect the multilayered nature of diasporic culture.
Translated, phulkari means “flower work” — a folk art made traditionally by women to weave stories of culture and community. Angela Aujla hopes viewers’ own unique stories will emerge from what they see within this piece, while collectively, we follow the diverse threads, branches, and streams within our communities to new growth.
el̓éli [to dream]
Ocean Hyland & Jessie Recalma
![2023 The Lantern City - Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza - Artwork 04_el̓éli [to dream] - Ocean Hyland _ Jessie Recalma](https://thelanterncity.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-The-Lantern-City-Vancouver-Art-Gallery-Plaza-Artwork-04_el̓eli-to-dream-Ocean-Hyland-_-Jessie-Recalma-931x1024.jpg)
To dream, to see the world from another perspective.
The shapes that we see construct the world we interpret. These shapes are handed down to us from our ancestors and the world around us; they are gifts given to us to share stories and visions of what we encounter in our lives. Stars shine, rain drops fall, thunderbirds grace the sky, the energy of our ancestors flows all around us. These designs represent the power of imagination and they surround us in the Year of the Rabbit.
Ocean Artworks
Granville Island
Victoria
Richard Hunt
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.
Bright Days Ahead
Rachel Smith
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
Dancing Under the Sun
Jessie Sohpaul
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!
The Forest of My Dreams
Arts Umbrella
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”.
Abstract Shapes
Arts Umbrella
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”.
Rabbits
Arts Umbrella
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”.
Jack Poole Plaza
North of the Vancouver Art Gallery
Eagles and the Sun
Ovila Mailhot
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.
A Cathedral of Colour for a Matriarch
George Littlechild
George 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.
Tree-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.
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.
The Lantern City is grateful to be held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). We acknowledge our privilege to be gathered on this land, and commit to work with and be respectful to the Indigenous peoples whose arts and stories inspire us to bring communities together.
