River Notes, 2016
River Notes maps a sustained inquiry and connection to the lower Fraser River. These drawings are linked to various places through site-derived plant and mineral-based pigments, and are a reflection of a wayfinding process in the studio and on site.
Acknowledgement Note: The Halq’eméylem words and place-names used to describe the origin of materials in this series were shared with me and used under the consultation of Sonny McHalsie, Stó:lõ archivist and cultural advisor; Brenda Crabtree, Stó:lõ and Nlaka’pamux artist and Emily Carr educator; and Laura Wee Lay Laq, Halq’eméylem language instructor and ceramicist.
Chuchuwálets / Way Out at the End
Pencil, gouache, silt (collected at Chuchuwálets *mouth of the Fraser River, way out at the end) river water (collected near Skwiyó *big eddy, stay away) on paper | 18 x 24 | 2016
Keratella Coalastrium / Rotifer
Goldenrod dye (collected in Semá:th *thick grass, level place lake), silt (collected at Seq'á:m *split, divide), tannin and mordant on paper | 18 x 24 | 2016
Cut Block / Qwequatchem
Gouache, wild blueberry dye (collected on Mount Chiyo:m or Lhílhyqey *always wild strawberries), mud (collected at Qwequatchem *echo, holler and hear your voice, answers you), tannin and mordant on paper | 18 x 24 | 2016
Salal / Heart on the Chest
Pencil crayon, salal berry dye (collected at Sts'a'i:les *heart on the chest, beating heart, laying on the chest), tannin and mordant on paper, 32 x 44, 2016
Skwiyó / Big Eddy, Stay Away
Gouache, river water (collected at Skwiyó) and silt (collected at Chuchuwálets *mouth of the Fraser River, way out at the end) on paper, 32 x 44, 2016
Quarry / Patch
Oil sand (collected on the Athabasca River) on paper, 32 x 44, 2016
Untitled Form
Goldenrod dye (collected in Semà:th *thick grass, level place lake), tannin and mordant on paper, 32 x 44, 2016
Installation View, Emily Carr University Concourse Gallery, 2016
Frontipoda / River Mite
Gouache, silt (collected at Chuchuwálets *mouth of the Fraser River, way out at the end), and river water (collected near Skwiyó *big eddy, stay away) on paper | 18 x 24 | 2016
Xwelítem / Hungry Ones / The New El Dorado
Gold leaf on paper | 18 x 24 | 2016
Cell / Island
Marine engine oil, gouache, silt (collected at eq'á:m *split, divide) river water (collected near Skwiyó *big eddy, stay away) on paper | 18 x 24 | 2016
Holler and Hear your Voice
Pencil crayon, salt, gouache, goldenrod dye (collected at Qwequatchem *echo, holler and hear your voice, answers you), tannin and mordant on paper | 18 x 24 | 2016
Salmon Nest
Charcoal (collected in Semà:th *thick grass, level place lake), gouache, river water (collected at Skwiyó *big eddy, stay away) and silt (collected at Seq'á:m *split, divide) on paper | 18 x 24 | 2016
Semá:th / Lost Lake
Charcoal (collected in Semà:th *thick grass, level place lake), gouache, wild blueberry dye (collected on Mount Chiyo:m or Lhílheqey *always wild strawberries) on paper | 18 x 24 | 2016
Installation view | Charles H. Scott Gallery | 2016