Waterfront art
Syliboy’s latest project a fusion of innovation and tradition
PICTOU – Alan Syliboy didn’t have to think twice about creating a piece of art for the deCoste Culture Hub project.
“I was absolutely interested,” says the celebrated Mi’kmaw artist, musician, author, and illustrator, speaking about the call for art proposals for the Pictou facility, which is set to open in September.
And he knew right away what he wanted to do after speaking with Eric Stackhouse, chief librarian from the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library.
“Eric explained to me where the art was going to be and the setting. Then we had to decide what image would fit that particular scene, and because it is near the water’s edge, an aquatic theme made the most sense. It didn’t take long to decide what to create.”
WOLVERINE AND LITTLE THUNDER
The result is a major piece of contemporary art, a fusion of tradition and innovation, created from corten steel with various treatments to create a myriad of textures and intricate patterns and painted the bright, vibrant colours that are Syliboy’s signature style.
Life-sized figures of Wolverine and Little Thunder, characters based on Syliboy’s book Wolverine and Little Thunder: An Eel Fishing Story, will be perched in a 16-foot-long canoe holding traditional fishing implements, poised to carry out their favourite pastime – eel fishing.
The piece will be fixed along the Jitney Trail and stand sentinel protecting the harbour. The art tells a story from traditional Mi’kmaw legend and is a representation of Syliboy’s story.
The characters will be chasing a giant eel – as they are in the story – which will measure 25 feet in length. The steel figures will be cut by Darren Martin of Little Harbour.
The prominent piece can be viewed from the hub, the waterfront, and the harbour. The artist will also provide a short, animated film of the story so everyone in the Culture Hub can relay that story to books, films and public art.
TEAMING UP
Just like Wolverine and Little Thunder teamed up in Syliboy’s story, Martin and he have teamed up in their artistry to create the piece.
“It’s my concept, based on Mi’kmaw legend and my contemporary spin, but Darren Martin will do the metal work and I will oversee the project every step of the way,” explains Syliboy.
The artist was born and raised on Millbrook First Nation. He still lives and operates his shop, Alan Syliboy Art Studio, on the same land he roamed as a boy. It’s from where he draws his inspiration: his land, researching his culture and the Indigenous petroglyphs of his ancestors.
EXCITEMENT
Andrea Terry, director/curator of St. FX Art Gallery, who was a member of the art selection committee, is enthusiastic about seeing this piece installed.
“The art selection committee was really excited about this particular piece because the figures are drawn from not only Mi’kmaw petroglyphs legends and cultures but also from one of Alan’s children’s books. So, what you have then is a depiction that is over life-size of Wolverine, Little Thunder and the giant eel that they encounter. So, to have that brought to life and put alongside the waterfront by the Jitney Trail is very exciting. It’s very site-specific, thoughtful, colourful and dynamic.”
Syliboy is no stranger to his art installations in public places; in fact, he has one in the People’s Place Library in Antigonish. This particular piece is a dream canoe wall mural measuring seven by fifteen feet.
And there is a current retrospective of more than 100 pieces of his work spanning 50 years of illuminating the story of his Mi’kmaq people, their spirituality and the connection between them and the land at Dalhousie Art Gallery titled The Journey So Far, celebrating his 50 years of artmaking; it will be there for viewing until Aug. 11.
“This new show at Dalhousie Art Gallery represents my whole career, my whole life, actually. So, I am very proud of that and I hope people will come and see that show.”
Syliboy has been creating his whole life. “I don’t ever recall a time when I wasn’t being creative – I was always drawing or making images since I was a child. I always made some kind of art.”
He is also an award-winning musician – Alan Syliboy and the Thundermakers. “My music is an extension of my art practice.”
Syliboy is looking forward to seeing his art, along with all of the other pieces, at the Culture Hub when it opens.
“Making art is a constant … that process never stops for me. I am always creating on a daily basis. I don’t consider it a job at all. I’m always looking forward to the next piece.”