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Birch Bark Bitings by Pat Bruderer
BIRCH BARK BITINGS
by Pat Bruderer at Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery
Pat Bruderer - Halfmoon Woman represents the preservation of one of the rarest and most threatened indigenous art forms in North America. The art form is called Birch Bark Bitings and Pat is one of the few current practitioners of this ancient first nations art. She was born and raised in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada and is of Cree ancestry. She is the mother of five children, and currently resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Halfmoon has always been an active community member, teaching art, volunteering, and creating programs to assist Indigenous communities in Canada.
Half Moon Women, is self taught in the ancient art of birch bark biting, and was inspired by the work of Angelique Merasty of Flin Flon, Manitoba. Halfmoon feels great responsibility as a carrier of this valuable art form, and strives for its preservation, and for the teachings that it holds. A birch bark biting is a very unique piece of Indigenous artwork. They are made from biting an image, using only the teeth, into a thin, single layer of birch bark from the birch tree. Birch bark had many uses historically, from making canoes and cooking pots, to medicinal uses. Birch bark bitings were used as a means to create bead work patterns on clothing and moccasins, to share stories and to record ceremonies. Birch bark biting is an extremely rare skill in modern times, and the rarity of the art form makes them even more special.
Excellent Frameworks (new location at 115 Kenneth Street in beautiful Downtown Duncan) has five of her original Birch Bark Bitings framed and available for viewing and sale. No two are alike!
JUNE ARTS
EJ Hughes Gallery & Excellent Frameworks
Stop by to pick out a favourite local scene by EJ Hughes for Dad. Choose from larger reproductions, open edition giclees on canvas, poster prints, limited editions, and art cards. Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 115 Kenneth St, Duncan 250-746-7112
Aquamaris Art Gallery
The month of June brings new arrivals by the West Coast artist Lisa Riehl and the fine-art floral artist Sandy Terry, along with expressive and dynamic pieces by Eunmi Connacher and landscapes by John Stuart Pryce.
Visit our website anytime, or stop by our physical location during our regular business hours. We look forward to welcoming you and assisting you with finding that perfect piece of original art that will suit your needs, taste and budget.
June hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. By appointment outside of these hours. quamarisartgallery.com
VISIT THESE DOWNTOWN DUNCAN GALLERIES
Aquamaris Art Gallery in the historic Duncan Garage Building
Suite 202 - 330 Duncan Street 250-597-2798 aquamarisartgallery.com
