Rande Cook: The Apology

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Rande Cook, "The Apology," 2022

mixed media on paper, 22" x 32"

Rande Cook: The Apology

On April 1, 2022, Pope Francis apologized to First Nations, Inuit and Métis gathered at the Vatican in Rome. Francis said: “For the deplorable conduct of these members of the Catholic Church, I ask for God’s forgiveness, and I want to say to you with all my heart: I am very sorry.”

The apology sounds sincere but is crafted to distance the Pope from the “members of the Catholic Church” responsible for the abuse. For some, the apology is too little, too late. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requested a similar apology during a meeting with Pope Francis in 2017. But the Church later declined the request in a letter.

​The Catholic Church has offered apologies, but usually for sins that happened in past centuries. In March 2000, Pope John Paul II initiated a Day of Pardon. He asked for forgiveness for a series of sins including “actions against the dignity of women and the unity of the human race” and “actions against love, peace, the rights of peoples, and respect for cultures and religions.”

Cook highlights these historic transgressions using photographs of Renaissance and Baroque sculpture. He gracefully tattoos the sculptural skin with formlnes, then adds emotional messaging with explosive brushwork and riotous colours.

There are 11 mixed-media artworks in the show. Nine are unframed on 32 x 22 inch paper. Two larger pieces on stretched canvas measure 48 x 64 inches. Cook took these photos of sculptures when he visited Rome in 2014. Many sculptures in Rome were commissioned by powerful political families, cardinals and princes. Designed to deify the owners, the sculptures manifest the long history of patriarchy and papal control within the ruling elite. These centuries of subjugation trouble Cook. “Viewing the sculptures, I feel such a sense of compassion for the pain and suffering endured by so many people.”

​As well as looking back, Rande Cook moves steadily into the future, using his artwork and position to make a better world. Born in Alert Bay in 1977, he is a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation and hereditary chief of the Ma’amtagila tribe.His professional output spans 25 years and his media is ever-evolving, including sculpture in metal and wood, jewelry, paint, glassworks and even book illustration. An innovator, he rejoices in pushing the boundaries between traditional and contemporary art forms. Being flexible, he offers astute commentary on our consumer society, while partaking freely, designing logos for corporate giants like Shopify. Cook cares deeply about the environment and the fate of humanity: “In Canada, we are all in this together,” he says. “How can we act collectively to ensure a better world for future generations?”

Cook recently completed a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Victoria. His thesis draws on scientific research by Suzanne Simard showing how forests have communal lives and are complex, interdependent life forms. His final project is a carved panel that re-structures traditional formline to show an aerial view of the land. Seen from above, the interconnection of species becomes tangible. ​​First Nations have felt this connection and lived sustainably with land and sea for thousands of years, explains Cook. This is a crucial time of change for the planet. Empathy and understanding between cultures are growing as shocking revelations about residential schools come to light. “We can share our traditions and ways of being that have honoured and protected the natural world since time immemorial,” he says. The Apology is a good place to begin.