School District No. 46 (SD46) has received a donation of 18 prints of contemporary Coast Salish artwork.
The works comprise two box sets of prints of works by Coast Salish artists from the Salish Weave Collection, commissioned by collectors George and Christiane Smyth.
“It’s extraordinarily exciting,” Aboriginal education district principal Kerry Mahlman told Coast Reporter. “We’re thrilled about it.”
SD46 is one of 27 school districts in traditional Coast Salish territories to receive box sets. Described as a “working collection,” they’re intended to be integrated into the curriculum as teaching tools for all grade levels and subjects.
The value of the donation has not been disclosed. Included in the collection are prints of works by contemporary Musqueam artists Susan Point and Kelly Cannell, as well as K’omoks First Nation artist Andy Everson, and Maynard Johnny Jr., of Kwakwaka’wakw Nation and Coast Salish heritage.
Mahlman said the school district was among the first to be contacted by the donors about the artworks approximately four years ago, and were contacted again in February 2020 and invited to take on the box sets.
COVID-19 caused a delay in transferring them from the University of Victoria, where they were housed, but when restrictions relaxed the box sets were transferred at the end of August, and district staff provided with resources for their use.
Plans are in the works to mount the works with prepared artist statements and to host an opening for students and the wider public, possibly coordinated with a Sunshine Coast gallery, once pandemic public health protocols allow.
“There will be some great opportunities for school children, teachers and support staff in the schools but even more than that, our intent is to make sure that our community has an opportunity to see and learn about these, too,“ said Malhman.
The collection is so large and unique it prompted school board trustees to consider devising a policy to guide how it’s used.
Trustee Sue Girard tabled a motion at a Jan. 13 SD46 board meeting to create a new arts policy, telling Coast Reporter after the meeting, “Partially, this is coming about because of that wonderful collection of art.”
