2019 Year of the Pig
Lantern Stories
Jack Poole Plaza
Salish Giant
Cory Douglas
Based on a local Squamish legend, the waters were once home to a large mythological creature that helped create the geography of the inlet. In his sketch, an upside down massive octopus is making up the space for the ocean. The line work hatch pattern of the mountains creates a distinctive graphic break between water and sky.
Spirit of Life
Thomas Cannell
Light has the power to evoke spiritual forces because of the vitality it represents to almost every culture. In Coast Salish culture, the winter months are spent telling stories and celebrating life by singing and dancing around a large fire in the longhouse. It is a beautiful scene of flickering & twirling light. Cannell has tried to embody the Spirit of Life and celebration in the design for this beautiful cross-cultural lantern display. This modern Coast Salish artwork displays colours that are traditionally seen at contemporary lantern festivals, and portraits a child with a lantern in hand, who is joyfully dancing in the moonlight.
Praying to the Crows
Zachary “SKOKAYLEM” George
Symbolizing the relationship between humans and the crows of Vancouver, the three moons designed represent both lunar icons and the people. The crows are known to bring joy and messages to the people they fly over. When crows are flying in flocks over the city, it brings people happiness to see how they have survived the harsh developments in the city and continue to bring happiness to all of Vancouver. “Spò:l” means crow in Tsleil-waututh.
Sharing
Miru Hayung
Atayal loves sharing and following customs (known as “gaga” in Atayal). This artwork is inspired by Atayal’s traditional weaving pattern, facial tattoo style, and its core belief in sharing and “gaga”. One of the “gaga” is that the spoils from the hunt should be shared with each other, it is how the community remains connected and engaged closely. This concept is symbolized by the wild boars. Another “gaga” is the facial tattoo. In order for people to cross the “rainbow bridge” and get to heaven after death, they have to earn their facial tattoo first. For women, it’s by being skilled in weaving. This is depicted by the traditional Atayal weaving pattern and the female with facial tattoo in the artwork.
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.
