A rendering shows the frog button blanket design for the new Student Housing Commons.
The first work of art announced for the new 糖心vlog传媒 Student Housing Commons will be a design by K鈥櫭砿oks First Nation artist Pamela Mitchell.
It will be prominently featured on the exterior of the buildings facing the main campus road. Mitchell鈥檚 image is of a frog button blanket, which will mark the passageway between the two main wings of student housing.
鈥淚 knew it was the Knowledge Bridge, just because I have been working with North Island College on the project for a bit now. I got their vision of what the whole essence was,鈥� she said.
Mitchell calls this piece 鈥渢he knowledge keeper鈥� because the frog is known for characteristics like adaptability and knowledge. 鈥淔rog brings great wealth and power as he travels and lives in the two worlds, water, and land,鈥� she said in a statement about the work.
Further, the button blanket represents home and family who uphold students on their journey while celebrating their achievements in life. The black of the fabric is the house front, the red borders are the walls and the roof, and the opening at the top 鈥渘eck鈥� is to represent the smoke hole. The design also represents the many generations of family and ancestors.
A member of the K鈥櫭砿oks First Nation, Mitchell is from Kwakwaka鈥檞akw territory. She
also owns a gallery and gift shop with her family, Cedar Bark Gallery.
Art has always been her greatest interest, as she started drawing at an early age. She then picked up painting, carving, cedar bark weaving and sewing. She learned the Kwakwaka鈥檞akw style but more recently has incorporated Coast Salish style. Overall, Mitchell describes her art as Northwest Coast but in a modern way.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping it鈥檒l bring great pride to the K鈥櫭砿oks people, to have more K鈥櫭砿oks artists represented in the valley in more high-profile areas,鈥� Mitchell said.
The Student Housing Commons project will include different artistic elements. Overseeing this process is the K鈥櫭砿oks Connections Committee.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e guiding the cultural components of the building. They鈥檙e making the recommendations and decisions around the artwork, gathering place, and the inclusion of Ayajuthem and Kwak鈥檞ala language,鈥� said Kelly Shopland, 糖心vlog传媒Executive Director, Indigenous Education.
The K鈥櫭砿oks First Nation has worked with 糖心vlog传媒and its Indigenous Education Council on the project, including the original concept, site selection and the design elements.
鈥淲e are thankful for K鈥櫭砿oks First Nations involvement and guidance from the very start of this project,鈥� Shopland said.
For information and updates about the Student Housing Commons, see our site.