Anastasia Hendry

Tribal Name: Skaan Jaada| Region: Vancouver Coast & Mountains

Website:
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Hometown:
North Vancouver
Tribal Affiliation:
Haida

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Artist Statement

I am a textile and visual artist. I have been creating art since my late teens and have been mentored by many family and community members. My grandparents were important artists during the Potlatch Ban and I am grateful that they were able to preserve our art, history and culture through the creative abilities. My grandmother was a master weaver and a creator of beautiful button blankets. My grandfather was a songwriter, singer, dancer and impressive story teller with a beautiful sense of humour. I am proud to be a descendent of Carrie and Joseph Weir and hope that I do justice to their memory. I am a member of the Haida First Nation, born in the village of Old Masset on the beautiful territory known to our people as Haida Gwaii, I have lived on traditional Coast Salish territory for most of my life. The creative works evident in nature in British Columbia are a continual source of inspiration to me. My environment, surroundings, culture and traditions are very important to me as an artist and I strive to expand my artistic horizons beyond the traditional forms. Traditional and modern works I create are an attempt to diversify the observer’s perceptions of North West Coast art, and to help observers understand that North West Coast art is continually evolving. I make drums, button blankets, work in leather and make traditional bone and shell jewelry. I have co-written 3 books, “Lelou’s Journey”, “Kloshe’nem Resource Book for Teachers” and the “North West Coast Button Blanket Colouring Book”.

I have been an art educator for 23 years, working at schools to increase and elaborate on First Nations knowledge. I work as an artist in residence in the Vancouver, Richmond, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford. I have also had the opportunity to work with youth in inner city youth to realize their gifts and realize their goals through art, culture and tradition. I have been a presenter at the Richmond Children’s Festival for 5 years hosted by the City of Richmond and the Richmond School District. I also do professional development for teachers and offer them easy to do activities that can be easily brought into the classroom setting. I have also had the privilege of working with ArtStarts and Learning Through the Arts, which gave me the ability to use partner First Nations and curriculum. I also developed a line of craft kits and games and have used these successfully in the schools for over 20 years. During the summer I work at summer schools to teach international students a little about First Nations culture in BC, the students come from Japan, Korea, China, France, Spain, Mexico and South America.

Bio

EDUCATION:

1975-present: Traditional teachings by various First Nations mentors, family

1976-Graduated David Thompson Secondary

1978-Langara College, Data Processing/Computer Programming/Accounting

1980-Carving, night school Vancouver School Board

1984-Pacific Vocational Institute, Burnaby, BC, Professional Cook Training

1999-Stained Glass-Fraser Valley College

2004-Begginers pottery-North Vancouver

2005-Weaving lessons with Haida Master Weaver, Ms. Christine Carty

2006-Metal Jewelry Course-Vancouver Community College

2006-Weaving workshop with Christine Carty – Haida Nation – basket

2007-Introduction to Textile Arts-Capilano College

2009-Cedar bark weaving –Coast Salish hat

2009-Felting workshop

2009-Carving workshop (wood)

2010-Adobe Illustrator certificate at Vancouver Community College

2011-Urban Weaver Guild Participant, Vancouver

2015-Silk Screening Course-Level I



SKILL SET SUMMARY:
•Button Blanket making
•Drum Making
•Art Educator
•Drawing & Directed Drawing
•Leatherwork
•Weaving
•Designing
•Leatherwork
•Instructor/Mentor/Educator
•Sewing
•Appliqué
•Pottery
•Jewelry making
•Traditional instrument making
•Regalia making (Northwest Coast style and some Plains First Nations)



GALLERIES:
•West Vancouver
•North Vancouver
•Vancouver
•Whistler
•Kelowna



GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

Silk Purse Gallery, West Vancouver 2014 with the elders of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre

Silk Purse Gallery, West Vancouver, 2010, “10 Women, 10 Nations”

Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, 2009- “Honour”

Silk Purse Gallery, West Vancouver, 2008 “Blanket Statement”

Silk Purse Gallery: West Vancouver, 2005

Seymour Art Gallery: “Liliyem-Gathering of Friends” North Vancouver: 2006

First Peoples Festival; Victoria Friendship Centre and the Royal BC Museum: 10 year participant: 1995-2005



COMMISSIONS:
•Various individuals in Canada-custom made button blankets
•Various individuals- custom made designs for headboards
•Leather clothing for First Nations Dancers
•Custom Drums and traditional musical instruments
•2 Wedding Button Blankets (one for Squamish Nation member, one for Matsqui First nation member)





AWARDS/GRANTS:



ArtStarts: Many residencies over the last 12 years including Vancouver& Kelowna.

VSB Artist in residence: Numerous Artists in residences – mini button blankets, shields,





WORKSHOPS/DEMONSTRATIONS:

Art Related:
•Museum of Anthropology: 2007-Button blanket demonstration, contemporary child’s button blanket
•Kelowna School District-2006 Display of artwork for district wide Aboriginal cultural day
•Museum of Anthropology: 1995-Button Blanket making demonstration of contemporary button blanket art
•Tourism Art/Craft Workshop: 1999-Squamish Nation Centre: delivery of First Nations art to 500 German attendees
•Seabird Island First Nation: Presenter, First Nations art/regalia workshops
•ESL Schools: Deliver of over 30 workshops for ESL students in various mediums (6 years of experience)
•Silk Purse Art Gallery: Button Blanket workshop
•Seymour Art Gallery: Tapestry Demonstration
•World Downs Syndrome Conference: Presentation for 75 participants, who learned how to make a small tapestry and traditional regalia
•Canoe Pass Gallery: Information/Art demonstration
•Learning Through the Arts: First Nations culture & etiquette; First Nations Art
•Learning Through the Arts: Lesson plans and presented for website, ltta.ca



Business/Art/Entrepreneur Related:
•Yuklaanas Native Crafts & Kits: 1992-developed a line of Aboriginal kits and games, marketed to museums, art galleries, gift shops and school districts in BC and across Canada.
•Kloshe’nem: (Partnership) Aboriginal Art, culture, tradition program for schools.
•Tale’awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation: 2002-assisted in delivery of First Nations Entrepreneur Training Workshops & Youth Camps
•Sto:lo First Nation: 2003-Youth Workshop/ Entrepreneurship Training
•Small Business Workshops: 2006- BC Interior, for Westbank First Nations, developed a manual for First Nations entrepreneurs
•Musqueam First Nation: presenter for 2007 Youth Career Fair: How To Become A Financially Successful Artist.





TEACHING/COMMITTEES/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
•False Creek Elementary, Hope School District- Professional Development for Teachers
•George’s: “Summer at St. Georges” Summer camp. Worked as a artist to deliver Aboriginal content to local and international students. (2007-present)
•Learning Through the Arts: North Vancouver, BC, Aboriginal Coordinator for BC and Alberta, 2005-2009
•Learning Through the Arts: Banff Centre for Fine Arts: met with First Nations artists from across Canada to develop framework for Canadian Aboriginal programming
•Burnaby Parks Board: First Nations Art for Camp registrants
•New Westminster School District; designed button blanket for Herbert Spencer Elementary, taught children how to sew
•Sto:lo Interpretive Centre: Drum making workshop for physically disabled ESL students
•Aboriginal Day Chilliwack BC: organized event, music, arts, crafts, food
•School District #43 Professional Day: -Art and Craft for teachers
•School District #43 Aboriginal Parent Advisory Council Family Nights: art/craft workshops
•Organized Craft Fairs for Sto:lo First Nations Artists, 1998-2000
•Volunteered at many elementary schools in the Lower Mainland: Coquitlam, North Vancouver, Surrey, Mission, Langley
•Volunteered for the First “Gathering of Nations Pow Wow-Vancouver”, catered the event with student volunteers
•Potlatch participation: in various First Nations territories, give away gifts, assisted with regalia, etc



RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
•Kloshe’nem: Art presentations, drumming, mask making, recycled art
•Learning Through the Arts: 2005-2009; Aritst, Mentor Artist and Aboriginal Coordinator for BC & Alberta Site of Learning through the Arts: currently developed programs, projects, lesson plans. Developed artist roster for BC and Alberta. Developed programs for Northern Alberta communities of Fort McMurray, Fort Chipewayan, Anzac,Janvier, Fort McKay
•ArtStarts: artist on the BC roster, delivery of First Nations art to public schools. Occasionally part of the selection committee for proposals to ArtStarts from BC schools.
•Yuklaanas Native Crafts & Kits, 1992-present: Owner: Wholesale business that produces a full line of native craft kits & games to museums, galleries, gift shops, school districts. Customer include: UBC -Museum of Anthropology, Xaytem, Vancouver Art Gallery, Wickaninish Gallery, Canoe Pass Gallery, Spirit Gallery, K’san Gallery, Vancouver Museum, Rainbow Gallery, Sarah’s Native Arts, Burnaby Parks Board, Okanagan College, Various School Districts (Coquitlam, Surrey, Mission, Chilliwack, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Qualicum, Hope, Kelowna, Seabird Island)
•Liliyem Native Gallery: 1998-2000, First Nations gallery owner in Chilliwack



FUND RAISING CONTRIBUTIONS:

Donated many Art pieces and teaching time to Potlatches, Pow Wows, gatherings, feasts, organizations.

Work Samples

Types of Work I Do

Clothing and Apparel|Drums and Accessories|Jewelry|Pottery|Other|Antler Carvings
My Toolkit

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