James Nexw’Kalus-Xwalacktun Harry and Lauren Brevner, “Dream Weaver Mural,” 2020
acrylic on concrete (courtesy the B.C. Achievement Foundation)
The B.C. Achievement Foundation has announced the winners of this year's Fulmer Award in First Nations Art.
“This year’s awardees join 85 artists from the award’s past 15 years,” said foundation chair Anne Giardini. “Their work builds on deep traditions while also illuminating new pathways.”
Crystal Behn (Dene and Carrier) took home the Crabtree McLennan Emerging Artist Award. Behn is based in Prince George and specializes in traditional and modern beadwork.
Sgaanjaad Sherri Dick, “Chilkat leggings,” 2004
thigh spun merino wool, beaver fur, compact and spaced twine (courtesy the B.C. Achievement Foundation)
Stan Bevan (Tahltan, Tlingit and Tsimshian) received the Award of Distinction. Bevan has had a long career as a carver, and helped to establish the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art on the campus of Coast Mountain College in Terrace.
The other four award recipients are Sgaanjaad Sherri Dick (Haida and Kootenay), a traditional Chilkat and Raven’s Tail weaver from Masset; James Nexw’Kalus-Xwalacktun Harry (Squamish and ‘Namgis), who focuses on large public art installations, including murals like one recently featured in the show Disorientations and Echo at the Vancouver Art Gallery; Shawn Karpes (‘Namgis), a carver based in Alert Bay, who studied with Beau Dick and Wayne Alfred; and Dean Hunt (Heiltsuk), a visual artist, traditional tattoo practitioner and music producer based in Sechelt.
Videos featuring the winners, along with images of their work, are available here.
Source: B.C. Achievement Foundation