Susan Point
| Susan Point | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 5, 1952 British Columbia |
| Nationality | Musqueam-Canadian |
| Education | Largely Self Taught |
| Known for | Sculpture |
| Movement | Coast Salish |
| Awards | YMCA Woman of Distinction |
| Elected | Royal Canadian Academy of Arts |
Susan Point (born 5 April 1952[1]) is a Musqueam Coast Salish artist from Canada, who works in the Coast Salish tradition.[2] Her works include public pieces installed at the Vancouver International Airport, Stanley Park, the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C., the U.B.C. Museum of Anthropology, and the city of Seattle.[3][4][5]
Point was born in Alert Bay while her parents were salmon fishing, and grew up with her family in their home on the Musqueam Indian Reserve.[4][6] In the early 1980s, she joined a group of artists interested in reviving the traditions of Coast Salish art and design, including artists such as Stan Greene, Rod Modeste, and Floyd Joseph. Little research had been done on Salish art, so Point taught herself the Salish traditions. She studied the collections of Coast Salish art at the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology and the Royal British Columbia Museum.[4][7]
Much of her art practice has involved the adaptation of traditional spindle whorl carvings into the medium of screen printing. Her work helped revive Coast Salish design and brought new scholarly attention to her culture.[4][7]
Works
Her works include Salish Footprint in the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia,[8] Musqueam house posts at the American Museum of Natural History,[9] and carvings installed at the Vancouver International Airport[10] and at Brockton Point in Stanley Park.[11]
In 1995, Susan Point's "Flight (Spindle Whorl)" was installed at the Vancouver International Airport. It is the largest spindle whorl in the world at 4.8 meters (16 feet) in diameter. The piece is set against a stone waterfall to symbolize the connection between land and sky.[12]
In 2009, Point’s “Tree of Life” stained glass window was installed in Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver. The design represents the Salish belief in the interconnectedness of all forms of life, uniting Christian theology with First Nations culture and merging the traditional with the modern. Point was commissioned by the church to design the windows after winning a competition.[13]
Awards and Honours
- Honorary doctorate in Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia (2000),[14] University of Victoria (2000),[15] Simon Fraser University (2008),[16] and Emily Carr University of Art and Design (2008)[17]
- Appointment to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (2004)[14]
- National Aboriginal Achievement Award (2004)[14]
- Officer of the Order of Canada (2006)[18]
- One of B.C.'s 100 most influential women (2010)[19]
- Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)[20]
See also
References
- ↑ "Lattimer Gallery - Artist Bio - Susan Point". lattimergallery.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
- ↑ Magocsi, Paul Robert (1999). Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples. University of Toronto Press. p. 91. ISBN 9780802029386. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ↑ Thom, Ian MacEwan (2009). Challenging Traditions: Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast. Douglas & McIntyre. pp. 117–120. ISBN 9781553654148. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 "Susan Point / Alcheringa Gallery - Contemporary Aboriginal Art". www.alcheringa-gallery.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
- ↑ "Washington State Public Stadium Authority :: Public Art". www.stadium.org. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
- ↑ Martin, Katherine (2010-10-06). Women of Spirit: Stories of Courage from the Women Who Lived Them. New World Library. pp. 213–219. ISBN 9781577318231. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- 1 2 Swan, Deborah. "The Graphic Works of Susan A. Point". History of Northwest Coast Graphic Art. Burke Museum.
- ↑ Mayer, Carol Elizabeth; Shelton, Anthony (2009). The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. Douglas & McIntyre. pp. 1–2. ISBN 9781553654155. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ↑ Mayer, Carol Elizabeth; Shelton, Anthony (2009). The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. Douglas & McIntyre. p. 26. ISBN 9781553654155. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ↑ Jonaitis, Aldona (2006-01-01). Art of the Northwest Coast. University of Washington Press. p. 270. ISBN 9781553652106. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ↑ Laurence, Robin (18 June 2008). "Susan Point's huge Coast Salish portals pay rich tribute". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013.
- ↑ "Flight (Spindle Whorl)". www.yvr.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
- ↑ Canada, Diocese of New Westminster | Anglican Church of. "'Tree of Life' window dedicated at Cathedral". Diocese of New Westminster | Anglican Church of Canada. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
- 1 2 3 Valaskakis, Gail Guthrie; Stout, Madeleine Dion; Guimond, Eric (2009-01-01). Restoring the Balance: First Nations Women, Community, and Culture. Univ. of Manitoba Press. p. 279. ISBN 9780887553615. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ↑ "University of Victoria -Honorary degree recipients - University of Victoria". www.uvic.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
- ↑ "Past Honorary Degree Recipients - Ceremonies and Events - Simon Fraser University". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
- ↑ "EMILY CARR UNIVERSITY OF ART + DESIGN ANNOUNCES 2014 HONORARY DOCTORATE AND EMILY AWARD RECIPIENTS" (Press release). 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016.
- ↑ "Order of Canada - Susan A. Point, O.C., D.Litt., D.F.A., R.C.A.". archive.gg.ca. Governor General of Canada. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013.
- ↑ "B.C.'s 100 of Influence" (PDF). Vancouver Sun. 2010.
- ↑ General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "The Governor General of Canada". Retrieved 2016-02-15.