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First Nations Art Takes Flight at YVR

September 15, 2016 by Hans Tammemagi 1 Comment

Pacific Passage art at YVR by Aldrich Pears

Pacific Passage – Art at YVR by Aldrich Pears – photos by Hans Tammemagi
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Disembarking from a long flight, weary travellers arriving at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) receive a pleasant surprise. Instead of long, dingy corridors, visitors pass through a traditional post-and-beam longhouse and enter the Pacific Passage, an attractive landscape dominated by Hetux — the keeper of the sky — a multi-coloured thunderbird with a 21-foot wingspan. A cedar whaling canoe floats majestically in the water. A seal and gull sit amongst driftwood logs and rocks. All these figures are decorated in the powerful red, green, and black ovoids that characterize First Nations art. These bold pieces are just a part of the large collection of native art at YVR, one of the great cultural secrets of Canada.

Hetux art at YVR by Connie Watts

Created from powder-coated aluminum and stained birch panels, Connie Watts’ Hetux looms above travellers as they walk through YVR’s Pacific Passage – photos by Hans Tammemagi
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Further along the passageway is the welcome hall of the Musqueam First Nation, on whose traditional land the airport sits. “This is my favourite part of the collection,” says Rita Beiks, the airport’s art curator, pointing to Flight, a 17-foot cedar spindle whorl. Two eagles are carved around two men with upraised arms. The images on the spindle whorl welcome visitors and symbolize flight.

Supernatural World art at YVR by Dempsey Bob

Supernatural World by artist Dempsey Bob – photos by Hans Tammemagi
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Four large weavings hang nearby. Down a short flight of stairs, two towering cedar welcome figures greet passengers.

“This is one of the best and largest collections of northwest coast Native art in the world,”

announces Bieks proudly.

The project began in the early 1990s when the YVR Art Foundation was formed to acquire the art of First Nations because of the outstanding beauty of their culture. YVR was the first airport in the world to place a major focus on art. Negotiations with the Musqueam First Nation led to the creation of the Musqueam Welcome Area in 1995. This was followed by the acquisition of Bill Reid’s The Jade Canoe, a monumental, six-ton bronze sculpture finished with a lustrous jade-green patina. The sculpture, which has become immensely popular, depicts a Haida canoe bearing 13 supernatural creatures including a raven, who steers the canoe. The Jade Canoe is considered to be the most significant sculpture of the 20th century, and has been featured on the $20 bill.

The Jade Canoe art at YVR by Bill Reid

The Jade Canoe by British Columbia Haida artist Bill Reid (1920–1998)
From Wikipedia: – The canoe carries the following passengers: Raven, the traditional trickster of Haida mythology, holding the steering oar; Mouse Woman, crouched under Raven’s tail; Grizzly Bear, sitting at the bow and staring toward Raven; Bear Mother, Grizzly’s human wife; their cubs, Good Bear (ears pointed forward) and Bad Bear (ears pointed back); Beaver, Raven’s uncle; Dogfish Woman; Eagle; Frog; Wolf, claws imbedded in Beaver’s back and teeth in Eagle’s wing; a small human paddler in Haida garb known as the Ancient Reluctant Conscript; and, at the sculpture’s focal point, the human Shaman (or Kilstlaai in Haida), who wears the Haida cloak and woven spruce root hat and holds a tall staff carved with images of Seabear, Raven, and Killer Whale. –
– photos by Hans Tammemagi
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A stroll around the sprawling airport leads to a constant stream of surprises. One encounters supernatural creatures and the bold designs of Native art. Travelers arriving via the Canada Line are greeted by Susan Point’s Cedar Connection, a giant old-growth stump emblazoned with a human face and an owl. Then they are welcomed by a 35-foot totem pole, Celebrating Flight, with creator Raven at the top.

Flight art at YVR by Susan Point

“Flight”, by Susan Point, is the world’s largest Coast Salish Spindle Whorl – photos by Hans Tammemagi
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The airport owns about 200 art pieces with an estimated value of $16 million to $20 million, which are in six main and several smaller groupings. The Foundation also supports young British Columbia Native artists through scholarships and showings at the airport.

Fog Woman with Raven art at YVR by Dempsey Bob

Fog Woman with Raven, by Dempsey Bob – photos by Hans Tammemagi
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The spectacular display, Supernatural World, is in an unlikely location, surrounded by ramps and walkways. A thunderbird swoops down to hunt the killer whale, who has a seal in his mouth. Carvings of an eagle, a raven, a human, and a bear look down from above.

Supernatural World art at YVR

Supernatural World at YVR – photos by Hans Tammemagi
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In another major grouping, large cedar carvings of Fog Woman and Raven sit among shops and dining tables. A stream runs from the carvings to an aquarium representing the ocean, above which hangs an enormous orca and stylized bull kelp made of glass. It’s hard to believe that this beautiful display representing the cycle of life is situated amongst the clamour of a modern airport.

Abode of the Orca Chief art at YVR by Lyle Wilson

Abode of the Orca Chief, by Lyle Wilson – photos by Hans Tammemagi
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Incredibly, there are no maps or pamphlets to guide you and explain this art collection. But there’s a certain magic in stumbling onto amazing mythology and colourful creatures when you least expect them.

Freedom to Move art at YVR by Steve Smith

Freedom to Move, by Steve Smith – photos by Hans Tammemagi
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Filed Under: First Peoples Tagged With: art, YVR

Comments

  1. Lynn Sparling says

    March 31, 2023 at 12:01 pm

    Proud to be from BC every time I walk through YVR. Such a beautiful display of indigenous art honouring the west coast people’s history.

    Reply

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