“hishuk ish tsawaak.”
We know this as a fundamental core principle of the Nuu-chah-nulth world view. “Everything is one.” And starting on Nov. 30, it is the title of an exhibit that will bring the work of 40 Aboriginal artists together for a month-long show.
The event kicks off on Friday with the opening reception at the Clock Tower Gallery at Port Alberni’s Harbour Quay. The artists on exhibit are connected with cedar artist Alice Sam and gallery owners Walter Collins and Elaine McLaughlin.
Sam is Ahousaht. Her father, late Dixon Sam, had roots in Tla-o-qui-aht and Ahousaht, and her mom, late Cora Sam nee Charlie, had roots in Ahousaht and Ditidaht.
Sam became involved in the show “hishuk ish tsawaak: Everything is One, We are all connected” not as an artist herself , but through her appreciation of Indigenous artists. She went through the work that Clock Tower currently has on display and started to pick out the Indigenous artists and thought, ‘why not make these artists a feature in the gallery.’
Where the art had no connection to a tribe or nation, she worked to establish (or root, as Sam described it) the art with a link back to the people. She wanted the artists to receive some recognition for their work, and she felt it was really important that the artist be connected to family and community.
And, she said, it’s important for the buyer of art to have as much information about the work that they are considering buying. This is a lesson of experience, said Sam. When she sells her cedar work, she attaches a note that tells her story and the feeling she gets when she creates.
“To me, it’s my strength,” she told Ha-Shilth-Sa. “It’s where I get my spirituality.” She said when things aren’t right, even playing with cedar centres her.
On display until Dec. 30th will be the work of such 40 artists as Jan Green and Moy Sutherland, Cecil Dawson, Sheryl McKay, Floyd Tate and Jason Titian. There will be masks, drums, paddles, clothing, beadwork, basket weaving, jewelry and painting. Some of the artists will even be available to demonstrate how they work.
A special feature of the event will be the display of three prints of the late Art Thompson.
While Sam is an artist in her own right, she has not planned to put in any of her own work in the show. She is just happy to promote the other artists. Sam currently has her hands full as she pursues her education in the healing field.
Sam met Collins a few years ago when her adopted brother Todd Robinson, a glass artist, was having a show at Clock Tower. She opened that show with some traditional songs and dances.
Opening night for “hishuk ish tsawaak” is scheduled for between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Nov. 30.
Collins is pleased to be able to run the exhibit and if it’s a success, he will hold it over thru January, he said.
Collins talents run to stone carving, acrylic painting, murals and portraiture. He understands how hard it is to make a living as an artist and the difficulty in getting wall or floor space in a gallery.
He’s happy to bring some exposure to Native artists. He said that locally there is a big interest in the work, and tourists definitely are interested in seeing First Nations and Aboriginal art.
