VICTORIA – BC Ferries, the First Peoples’ Cultural Council and Esquimalt Nation revealed today the first of three Coast Salish artistic designs for BC Ferries’ new Salish Class vessels.
Esquimalt Nation’s Darlene Gait designed the artwork that will adorn the Salish Orca. The artwork will also be displayed inside the vessel for customers to view and additional exposure for the artist.
Last August the First Peoples’ Cultural Council issued a call for artists and Coast Salish artists were invited to submit their portfolios for consideration. From 37 expressions of interest, a jury of artist peers and BC Ferries representatives identified a shortlist of nine artists who were invited to submit specific design concepts for the three Salish Class vessels. The jury reviewed the design concepts with attention to artistic excellence, Coast Salish artistic style, ability to express the vessel names through artwork, ability to provide digital images for fabrication and ability to meet the project timeline.
In January, BC Ferries and the First Peoples’ Cultural Council announced the selection of three Coast Salish artists to create designs for the new Salish Class vessels; Darlene Gait from Esquimalt Nation for the Salish Orca, John Marston from Stz’uminus for the Salish Eagle and Thomas Cannell from Musqueam for the Salish Raven. The vessels are named to recognize the Coast Salish as the original mariners of the Salish Sea. The two other artistic designs will be shared publically over the coming months.
“Darlene’s design for the Salish Orca is a wonderful tribute to the Coast Salish people and our beautiful coast,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ President & CEO. “We were pleased to partner with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council and the three artists on this unique project. These new vessels will serve coastal communities for years to come and we would like to thank Darlene for capturing Esquimalt Nation’s rich coastal culture and heritage in her design. We look forward to officially welcoming the vessel into the fleet later in 2016.”
The Salish Class ferries are currently under construction at Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland. The Salish Orca will be the first ship to arrive in 2016 and will sail on the Comox – Powell River route. The Salish Eagle will arrive in late 2016 and the Salish Raven will arrive in 2017, and both of these ships will sail in the Southern Gulf Islands.
“We are so pleased to see Darlene’s design revealed today,” said Cathi Charles Wherry, Arts Program Manager at the First Peoples’ Cultural Council. “Her creative vision will travel the Salish Sea for many years to come, creating greater awareness of First Nations arts for the general public and B.C. visitors. It has been an honour to work with the artists and BC Ferries on this project and we are so looking forward to seeing the other two artistic designs revealed later this summer.”
Esquimalt Nation’s Darlene Gait designed the artwork that will adorn the Salish Orca. The artwork will also be displayed inside the vessel for customers to view and additional exposure for the artist.
Last August the First Peoples’ Cultural Council issued a call for artists and Coast Salish artists were invited to submit their portfolios for consideration. From 37 expressions of interest, a jury of artist peers and BC Ferries representatives identified a shortlist of nine artists who were invited to submit specific design concepts for the three Salish Class vessels. The jury reviewed the design concepts with attention to artistic excellence, Coast Salish artistic style, ability to express the vessel names through artwork, ability to provide digital images for fabrication and ability to meet the project timeline.
In January, BC Ferries and the First Peoples’ Cultural Council announced the selection of three Coast Salish artists to create designs for the new Salish Class vessels; Darlene Gait from Esquimalt Nation for the Salish Orca, John Marston from Stz’uminus for the Salish Eagle and Thomas Cannell from Musqueam for the Salish Raven. The vessels are named to recognize the Coast Salish as the original mariners of the Salish Sea. The two other artistic designs will be shared publically over the coming months.
“Darlene’s design for the Salish Orca is a wonderful tribute to the Coast Salish people and our beautiful coast,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ President & CEO. “We were pleased to partner with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council and the three artists on this unique project. These new vessels will serve coastal communities for years to come and we would like to thank Darlene for capturing Esquimalt Nation’s rich coastal culture and heritage in her design. We look forward to officially welcoming the vessel into the fleet later in 2016.”
The Salish Class ferries are currently under construction at Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland. The Salish Orca will be the first ship to arrive in 2016 and will sail on the Comox – Powell River route. The Salish Eagle will arrive in late 2016 and the Salish Raven will arrive in 2017, and both of these ships will sail in the Southern Gulf Islands.
“We are so pleased to see Darlene’s design revealed today,” said Cathi Charles Wherry, Arts Program Manager at the First Peoples’ Cultural Council. “Her creative vision will travel the Salish Sea for many years to come, creating greater awareness of First Nations arts for the general public and B.C. visitors. It has been an honour to work with the artists and BC Ferries on this project and we are so looking forward to seeing the other two artistic designs revealed later this summer.”
“I look forward to sharing my artwork,” said Darlene Gait, Coast Salish Artist. “It was created from a love that runs deep, a love that embraces my family today and those who we consider still with us but living in the world of spirit. The orca whales and wolves are also separated by two different worlds. I look forward to sharing with you my story.”
