WALKING IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS

Sybil’s Students : A Local Legacy

EXHIBIT ON UNTIL OCTOBER 22 AT MUSEUM AT CAMPBELL RIVER

A NEW EXHIBITION at the Museum at Campbell River highlights the legacy of internationally acclaimed artist Sybil Andrews — famous for the linocuts she created from the late 1920s through 1988 — and her many students. Their collective body of work documents the comradery of the classroom and the community they developed, and demonstrates how the mentorship of Sybil Andrews has impacted the arts community of Campbell River.

Andrew’s legacy is carried on through the work of her devoted students whom she mentored, encouraged, and supported.

This exhibition focuses on the work of her talented students and how her legacy shines brightly in the work of students like Marcy Prior, Richard Calver and many others. Many of Andrew’s students and their descendents allowed relevant pieces to be borrowed and shown for this special exhibit.

Richard Calver was one of those students, and before he passed away, he left a substantial collection of his work to both the Museum at Campbell River and the Campbell River Art Gallery. He hoped to add to their collections and help raise funds to support the efforts of both organizations.

“This gift from Richard Calver is a big part of what makes this show possible. Richard’s collection has sev eral representations of Sybil’s classes in progress and portraits of the different students,” says Beth Boyce, Museum curator and designer of the show. “Many of the artworks feature Sybil herself as the subject and you can really see the warmth and affection her students had for her through their work.”

Sybil first started teaching art classes in 1959, continu ing her weekly classes until she passed in 1992. Sybil had a devoted following and taught many locals over the years, several of whom went on to become quite successful professional artists themselves.

“Sybil was a very hands-off teacher,” remembered Rich ard Calver. “She always said, “just quietly go about your work, without making a big scream or splash.” Her main focus was for us to learn to see; she would encourage us to see subtleties, the shadows within the shadows. She wanted us to paint where something was happening. She said, “Draw everything, and you will learn to see.

Boyce is grateful for the support for the show, saying, “Other students, and in some cases their descendants, have been generous in lending works for the show as well, making it a real community effort.”

Public can view the show at the Museum, Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm to 5pm until October 22. Admission fees apply; locals visit free on Wednesdays. Visit www.crmuseum.ca for more details on the upcoming Gala and Calver Art Auction this fall.

I first had the chance to interview Jessica Chickite about her work as an Indigenous Artist with the neighbourhood publication Campbellton Now back in 2014. Completely drawn in by her unique style, meeting Chickite and interviewing her was a door opener to a better understanding of life as a Laichkwil-tach Artist.

Currently, Chickite is working on a very big community project at Carihi Secondary that involves her father, Max Chickite, and friend and fellow Artist, Junior Henderson. “It’s an honour that they asked me,” shares Chickite. “I was quite intimidated at first but they gave me the confidence that I could do it. I really appreciate the support and opportunity they are giving me. Junior told me that I wasn’t being asked because I am Max’s daughter—but because I’ve earned it. This makes me feel very positive about where I’m at as an Artist and excited for this collaborative project to give back to community.”

What is the project, you ask? This group has been working on a traditional cedar dugout canoe that will be hosted by the secondary school for generations to come. Indigenous Liaison and Weiwaikum Band Councillor Shelley Haunch was the conduit that brought the project forward. This is a unique opportunity to highlight the work of the Laich-kwil-tach people and a joint-venture with Weiwaikum and Wewaikai Artists.

Both Chickites, Henderson, Haunch, Carihi Past-Principal Schaub and Weiwaikum Legislative Chief Chris Roberts gathered to discuss the inspiration for the canoe’s design; now it’s Jess Chickite’s time to turn this inspiration and complete the beautiful paint work that will adorn the outside panels of the canoe her father and friend have created.

The Chickite history is Legacy in itself, and the family hosts a number of very talented Artists from a number of generations. Max Chickite is well known for his carving and totem work and it was an honour to sit with him and review his life as an Artist on his family and especially on Jess. “She started watching me paint when she was around 5 years old,” he shares. “I never have been a full time Artist; mostly I have been a commercial fisherman. This gave me the opportunity to visit and experience other First Nation villages all along the coast. The history and culture is shared and as an Artist, I’m able to use that knowledge in my work and pass it down to the next generation and beyond. Most true art projects don’t just drop in your lap, you have to earn them.” You can tell the fondness Chickite has for his daughter and his family. He speaks very highly of Jess’ work and her fluid movement in her traditional style.

We touch on all the murals Jess has done throughout the Campbell River School District. Her father notes the Bear that she created at the Wewaikai Preschool. “It’s unique. She paints with understanding; the daycare children can relate to the bear. They see and it brings them closer to our culture and understanding,” Max Chickite says.

Max also continues to make ‘giving’ a priority within community and is working on a mini-Big House for the daycare so children can be familiar with the space and the roles in celebrations and other important events. A Big House is a gathering place for First Nation communities to share and practice cultural and spiritual rituals. Many Big Houses were destroyed or abandoned through the timing of the Indian Act evoking the Potlatch Ban, from 1884 till the mid 1950s. Now they are being rebuilt and cultural practices being re-embraced and shared for future generations to carry on the knowledge of West Coast Indigenous ways.

Max Chickite touches on his own cultural experiences. “I remembering asking why we had to learn French in high school,” he says. “Why not our own language? It made sense to me at the time, and now we are seeing that in the education system. When I travelled to Montreal, it really opened my eyes to the multiculturalism that is Canada. All the different cultures and languages spoken were inspiring to me and to hear someone speak four or five languages fluently with understanding and comprehension; it was very insightful,” Max Chickite nods his head with language being at the forefront of First Nation culture, as the old ways were by tongue and not in writing.

During this past winter, at Carihi in Campbell River, Master Carvers Max Chickite and Junior Henderson blasted through the first part of carving the cedar canoe. In 21 days, using chainsaws, they roughed out the shape and the dugout portion. Then it took them another week to steam the wood and smooth it down with finer tools. The log itself was selected by Chickite and was brought in from Eve River. Chickite had the opportunity to select several trees for their size and shape and the first one he chose wound up being the best selection for this project.

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FEATURE ARTIST

JESSICA CHICKITE

Indigenous Education Building at North Island College in Campbell River

Compass interviewed and featured Junior Henderson—who was juggling this project and a special pole project in Cumberland— this past winter, and he shared his passion to share knowledge and culture. Max Chickite has worked with many well-known First Nation Artists: Beau Dick, Wayne Alfred, several of the Hunts. While carving a Komokwa (King Under the Sea) Mask in Alert Bay, Beau Dick asked Chickite what kind of drugs he was on? “Just high on culture,” Chickite laughs as he tells this anecdotal story from another legendary Master Carver. “My uncle gave me a pocket knife when I was nine. I started carving letter openers, adding figure heads such as eagles, copper, and raven. My uncle said, ‘how much you think we can sell these for?’ and it all started from there,” he says, smiling as he reminisces. Chickite is an established Master Carver with totems from Victoria to Palm Springs, with seven in the Campbell River region.

The name Chickite means ‘giving’ or ‘to give’ and Max and Jess are both highly invested in giving back to community through culture. “It is time to ensure that the next generations have the understanding and knowledge of our culture, to move forward and keep our way of life at the forefront of their daily lives. Giving is our way and it is a big part of our legacy,” Max Chickite says while looking at his grandchildren Jaycee and Jasper, knowing they already have their hand in it with their mom, Jess, and dad, Cody, leading the way. Chickite’s sister, Jaclyn, is also very inspired and interested in culture. She’s an excellent seamstress and is learning how to produce traditional dance blankets and aprons, and is working towards designing her own fashion line. “I’m ready to immerse myself in our culture and take my knowledge to the next level,” Jaclyn says.

Jess walks me through the design she is painting on the canoe. Her dad and I spun the piece around taking up most of the width of the Carihi Multi-purpose Room and at 42+ feet; the canoe has a huge presence. “We all met and discussed what should be represented, and in the end I am using four Sockeye salmon. The Sockeye represent us, the Salmon people - Laich-kwil-tach and the number four is an important number showing the four corners in the Big House, our seasons and more. I’m painting mirrored images on both sides of the canoe with a Killer Whale and Eagle eating the salmon. These beautiful creatures are present in our territory and symbolize the ‘Circle of Life’,” says Jess. “The canoe will be traditionally named and it will translate closely to the word ‘Legacy.’”

There will be a feast to honour the Artists and the canoe this fall and protocols are being worked on for use of this cedar canoe. Its purpose is to teach students about the traditional ways of harvesting and gathering on the West Coast and how to transport people from village to village. There is a lot of work yet to be done and the Chickites are committed to completing this process to ensure the legacy lives on. Jess Chickite shared that 30 canoes were bombed on Cape Mudge, their home village on Quadra Island, in the 1800s, and this canoe is a reconciliation piece to move forward on the intergenerational healing for their nation and their people.

Chickite is focused on completing the canoe project painting by the end of the school year, which is a big task in itself. She continues to work on commissions and is currently the House Artist at Beachfire Brewing in Campbell River. When time allows, she will tackle logo and design work in digital formats and continues to learn and practice graphic design. They are all looking forward to the summer and continue to invest in each other for the purpose of legacy and community giving.

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