Nigel Fox Artworks

There is less than a week until the year end exhibit for we, the students at Freda Diesing School. Most of the submitted pieces will be carvings and although this is a new medium for me, I have to say that I have surprised myself with how well I did. I’m happy with the work and I think that is all that matters.

It’s been quite the year and i think that I will do a bit of a review when I have the time, but for now it’s back to the grindstone. I still have some pieces to finish for the exhibit… Here’s a photo of a red cedar mask that I am working on for the show:

"Mammon, Midas and Myself", Medium: Alder, Acrylic paint, yellow cedar bark rope

“Mammon, Midas and Myself” – The title for this mask was taken from a Switchfoot song “Faust, Midas and Myself” and it is meant as a personal warning against seeking after wealth.  Midas, was a the mythical king who could turn things to gold just by touching it, but he starved to death because his food turned to gold before he could digest it.

The copper and blue color signifies wealth in northwest coast art.  Copper in the eyes signifies intent.  The open mouth signifies an insatiable appetite. The concave cheeks signify starvation.

Check out my facebook page through the blue “F” tab on the right for more photos.

Rangi Kipa, Maori Artist

Rangi Kipa, a leading Maori artist from New Zealand, came to the class today in order to introduce himself and meet the students. This is part of what has become somewhat of a “teacher’s exchange”. Dempsey Bob and two Freda Diesing graduates went to New Zealand in October in order to learn more about the Maori culture and its carvers first hand. They met with Rangi while they were down there. While Rangi is here, he will be doing a bone carving workshop for Freda Diesing students; former FDS students are also welcome to attend tomorrow (bring your own bone to carve).

Naomi Yamamoto, BC's Minister of Advanced Education

While Rangi was meeting with the students today, we had a surprise visit from BC’s minister of advanced education, Naomi Yamamoto. Naomi seemed quite interested in what we are doing at the school, learning about the various facets of the school. I got to talk with her and even show her a cedar mask that I am carving. She seemed very interested to know about how and why we dry the wood while we are carving it.

On a similar note, I was a bit surprised to hear that Rangi has a degree in social anthropology and a masters degree as well. I am finding that a lot of the more academic art schools encourage written and spoken communication. I think that this is because words are important, especially in the context of art. Words often provide a context for a piece of art, sort of like the light in a room, and that is part of the reason why I have learned to love to write.

Well, things are busy yet again this week, with another presenter, this time from Emily Carr University–Brenda Crabtree.  Brenda came here to teach us about first nations history on the coast and in BC, plus she is co-ordinating a drum making workshop.  It has been a very full two days.  Brenda brought with her a student from Emily Carr, Luke Parnell, who is currently working on his masters at the university.

There is a very thin line between art and history, this is the impression that I got when listening to Brenda’s talk.  Historians and archeologists try to re-create a picture of the past in the same way that an artist forms an image out of a vision.  An artist may take an idea that starts off as little more than a notion and, over time, form something that makes perfectly clear what their intent is.  The artist may use certain materials at their disposal, such as a model, object or photo, but ultimately the interpretation is theirs.  In the same way, a historian may use documentation, photos and artifacts to mold a picture of what might have been; but ultimately, the interpretation is theirs.

Now, an interpretation will be guided by the beliefs and perspective of the interpreter.  The same is for an artist as for a historian.  This is why there is a trend towards aboriginal historians interpreting first nations history.  First nations understand their culture and are best suited to describing it.

BC's Lieutenant Governor, Steven Point

A certain noteworthy person dropped by the school today, BC’s lieutenant governor, Steven Point.  Steven is an artist, actor and canoe maker, and also the uncle of one of the other students in my class and so he felt quite comfortable.  He went from desk to desk, observing the various pieces and making conversation.  It was good to see him.

Another person who came to the class today was Yukon artist Aaron Smarch.  Aaron is the son of artist, Keith Smarch.  Aaron will be with us for a month in order to observe and report back to his peers and promote the school.  Not too many people have been to the school who are from the Yukon, and having Aaron give a first hand account to his friends and acquaintances is good for the school.

Roy teaching the class how to use drawing software

Roy Henry Vickers’ presentations last week were great. I have talked with a number of other students in the class who agree that this was a very good presentation, though I hear a different thing that each person liked every time that someone talks about it. I have heard some agree with Roy that first nations culture should be awakened more. There are some who agreed with what Roy said about inclusion and that all people around the world are one big family. There are others who agreed with Roy when he said that the rivers and waters need to be protected for the sake of first nations culture and lifestyle. Regardless of what people took from the presentation, there seemed to be about three common themes upon which most people agreed with Roy: you need to speak from the heart, public speaking is scary regardless of how experienced you are and that you need to work hard to build a reputation as an artist.

Over all, Roy was bold and yet approachable, strong yet vulnerable, spiritual yet practical. Roy confided to us that he has been asked to speak at at least one major university, because his speaking style is different from that found in conventional academia. Roy has been taught to speak from the heart, because “when you speak from the heart, the hearts of others will listen; if you speak from the head, the heads of others will listen. So, when time passes and the listener gets older, the heart will remember, but the head will forget.” Roy said that Chief Dan George told him that. I would recommend Roy’s presentations to anyone regardless of education or background; and especially to anyone who is an artist.

Anyways, with the count down running at school, we are working to get our projects done before the year end deadline. So far we have four projects that we are required to hand in: a paddle, a spoon, a bowl and a portrait mask. I have currently only fully completed my paddle, with the other projects all well under way.

My finished paddle

Today we had the honor of hearing the artist Roy Henry Vickers talk to the class. Roy is energetic, enthusiastic and totally engrossing in his speeches. He covered topics ranging from his life history to design. Roy had a way of capturing the attention of his audience with a gentle, yet responsive tone and always was sensitive to his audience. I know that a few times during the presentation he answered questions that I had without me even having to ask them. One of these questions was about where he got such amazing story telling skills. Roy confided to us that he gained these skills from two people, one person being the poet and scholar Chief Dan George and the other person being a gentleman who spoke in his village when he was younger. Roy said that Chief Dan George taught him to speak “from here”, pointing to his chest. Roy also mentioned that one of his elders taught him to speak from the heart, because when you speak “from here”, you speak to others “right here.”

Roy went on to discuss his gallery, the Eagle Aerie Gallery, in Tofino; his family and children; and some of his key prints. Roy described his experiences with tears and laughter. Roy described his prints in tones of emotion and reminiscence. Roy touched upon various issues that are close to his heart, such as the protection of the rivers and waters in the area from potentially destructive influences such as the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway project and the suspended Shell Coalbed Methane development. Roy said something that is true about the rivers–they are the lifeblood of the people. Kill or polute these rivers and you seriously injure the traditional ways of the first nations, possibly forever.

Roy went on to talk about what makes a print valuable and even what makes a print an original work of art. He said that when you make an edition, especially your first edition, your reputation is on the line. To me, he impressed upon me to make my first edition a high quality one and never another cheap old giclee edition.

Tomorrow he will be discussing prints and computer design. Stay tuned.

We had a visit today by about 50 kinder garden students who pulled up in a big yellow bus. I enjoyed talking with the young ones. Some of them asked questions, others talked about seemingly random things, others were very shy and quiet. I was kind of amazed to see one student pointing out the crests that he saw in the class and declaring that he was from the eagle crest. He was probably taught by someone older than himself, perhaps his elders.

Barry Sampere

A really great thing about Freda Diesing School is the seamless mixture of old and young students. The ages range from 19 to 70 and no one really notices. The younger students glean from the older and the older students get new ideas from the younger. It almost parallels the symbiosis between traditional and modern art, because the young would not be as strong as they could without the old and the old, likewise. I’ll say it again, this is what makes this school really great.