Emily Carr Art and Mural Series
 
Under the Distinguished Patronage of
The Honourable Steven L. Point
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

 ..
The Emily Carr number 2 in the series was revealed and blessed on
Saturday September 25 2010 and
it was crowned with the "Skidegate Eagle" inspired carving on Saturday April 23 2011 at 11 AM

The Skidegate Eagle inspired carving by Carey Newman was placed on the arts sculpture on Saturday April 23 2011.
"The Great Eagle Skidegate, BC, 1929" was painted by Emily Carr. The original Eagle (late 1800) crested a memorial pole in Skidegate
and Emily Carr preserved its memory in her watercolour.
The carving being unveiled today, created by Carey Newman, is inspired by Emily’s painting.

Name of the full exhibit which is an arts sculpture (entrance (front) of a traditional longhouse) 

 “First Nations Villages as seen through the eyes of Emily Carr”

 Number two in the Emily Carr series
Original concept design>  Actual on Sept 25> 

The Concept

Dr. Karl Schutz, the originator of the Chemainus Murals has introduce the Emily Carr concept to Chemainus in 1997, which was finally realized and excepted in 2009. On this specific mural Karl colaborated with Carey Newman and the Festival of Murals steering committee and this Art Sculpture idea developed and took its present form after several major revisions. While he envisioned this Emily Carr project the name and the paintings for this second Emily Carr longhouse project, he agrees that the final interpretation of his concept by Carey Newman as a great evolution of an idea in the making.

Karl introduced Carey to the board and the rest is history. Dr. Karl was the project coordinator as well working on its construction with many others as listed. Karl worked a solid two weeks on pulling the construction for the sculpture together and previously worked many many hours on lining up the various components from the alumium, to the cedar he had a hand in every part of the organizing and completions of the project.

The Overal Emily Carr idea goes back to February 21, 1997 when Dr. Karl Schutz met Valerie Pusey, who owned an art gallery in Victoria, which sold the art of Emily Carr. At that time, the germ of an idea to expand the mural theme to include a famous artist, like Emily Carr, was planted. It was not until he was introduced to the ‘Group of Seven Murals’ in Huntsville, Ontario, on December 15, 2006, that the idea of the Emily Carr mural theme slowly came to life. 

After re-joining the Festival of Murals (FOM) in early 2007, Karl made it his goal to expand the theme of the Murals. Karl first introduced the theme for either E.J. Hughes or Emily Carr to the FOM in July 2007. No action was taken at that time. On Sunday October 21, 2007, Karl and his wife, Betty, went on a fateful mystery bus tour which included Emily Carr House, where he met Jan Ross. When he shared his vision about Emily Carr murals with Jan, who supported the idea with great enthusiasm, he knew the project was guaranteed to be a success. Karl was given the opportunity to pursue this new venture. 

The Artist Carver Carey Newman

Carey Newman is a Kwagiulth artist. Born on February 15th 1975, Carey is prominent among the younger generation of native artists.
Under the influence and support of his father and mother, Carey developed his artistic ability and cultural knowledge from an
early age. Artistry is in his blood. His father Victor, his great, great grandfather Charlie James, and his great aunt Ellen Neel,
are all renowned wood carvers. Being of British and Kwagiulth/Salish descent, Carey has been able to draw upon each of
these cultures for his inspiration.                                                        
The carving.

  
The Art

The acclaimed professional First Nations artist Mr. Carey Newman carved an eagle as well as First Nations images,
erected and coordinated the painting of this second outside Mural of Emily Carr's work in the style of a Longhouse.
This mural located in the center of our community is the second Emily Carr project and they are supported by way of patronage by
the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

The painter is the very accomplished local artist and the curator of the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society Ms. Cim Macdonald of Chemainus.
The two paintings will be "Emily Carr's Haida Totems" 1912 and the second name is "Canoes & Totems; Alert Bay 1908-09".

The Artist Painter

Born in Scotland, Cim MacDonald came with her family to Victoria when she was seven. She completed her schooling with a major in art. MacDonald remembers painting greenware in post-war Scotland, sitting around the kitchen table with her mother, aunts and grandmother. When her father joined a seniors art class, he inspired Cim to try her hand at painting again. A number of courses later, she began to exhibit her art and to teach others to paint. Her paintings can be found in corporate collections including Rivtow and Fletcher Challenge Canada, IBM and Domtar.

The paintings are:  Alert Bay 1908   Haida Totems Cha’ta’l 1912

Visit Chemainus soon!

Emily Carr Giclees, cards etc and Festival of Mural souvenirs are available
in the Emily Carr room at the Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn or online. 

Reveal speech on Sept. 25 2010 by The President of the Festival of Murals Society.

Before I introduce Mr. Carey Newman, the artist carver, and our curator, Cim Macdonald, who reproduced the Emily Carr paintings, I would like to talk about this Arts Sculpture in front of you.
During 2008, we as a team, with Carey and Karl in a key position, developed the design of this Arts Sculpture, a powerful enough piece on its own, to display Emily Carr’s art. This Arts Sculpture, which is the second piece in our Emily Carr series, is titled "First Nations Villages as Seen Through the Eyes of Emily Carr".
Emily Carr, as most of you know, is the world famous, female, BC Artist, who lived and worked on Vancouver Island. She was born on December 13, 1871, in Victoria.
For the Festival of Murals, the Emily Carr projects and murals was the next step in artistic appreciation, away from the practical purpose of art as historical representation, towards a finer more in-depth appreciation of art for art’s sake.
Emily, being a naturalist, had a reverence and fascination for the First Nations of the British Columbia coast. She is one of Canada’s greatest and most loved artists, her dedication, innovation, achievements and strengths have helped make BC the Best Place on Earth.

During her visit to the Ucluelet Indian Reserve on Vancouver Island in 1898, the Nuu-Chah-Nulth people gave her the name "Klee Wyck," which means "laughing one." She once said, "Indian people and their art touched me deeply". Her work reflected her interest in First Nations culture, as well as the forest landscapes and skies of the British Columbia coast.

In 1924, Carr visited the Chemainus Valley and painted Chemainus Bay, 1924-25, which is now part of Calgary’s Glenbow Museum collection.

The Chemainus Festival of Murals Society firmly believes that the Emily Carr project will and already has brought new visitors, but in time, will also change the demographics of the Chemainus visitor. Every individual who was educated in a North American university knows about Emily Carr and we are so proud she was a Vancouver Island artist. Her paintings are now selling for well over one million dollars.
The two paintings you will see represented are of First Nations Villages: Canoes and Totems, Alert Bay 1908 and Haida Totems, Cha’ta’l 1912.
The structure represents the front of a First Nations traditional Longhouse. After working through several different concepts, we finally settled on a simple piece that incorporates several design elements that speak to the theme of this project. The backdrop will be the front of a traditional longhouse complete with an open doorway and bold cedar fascia planks. The fascia boards have been carved by Carey Newman. The piece de resistance, the final touch, will be revealed during our Festival of Murals Anniversary on April 23 2011. At that time we will invite and ask the various First Nations Chiefs to bless and dedicate this Longhouse Arts Sculpture during a very special program.
You won’t see it today, but on April 23, 2011, sitting atop the peak of the roofline will be a Carey Newman carving of "The Great Eagle Skidegate, BC, 1929". This eagle, which crested a memorial pole that was raised in 1882 in Skidegate, has long since fallen. Its memory has been preserved in the Emily Carr water colour.
Carey will reveal this Eagle carved from the image in the painting during April 2011, tying together the new and old and continuing an artistic cycle that began when the subject of that Emily Carr painting was first carved in Skidegate”.

Carey Newman is a Kwagiulth artist. Carey is very prominent among the younger generation of native artists. Under the influence and support of his father and mother, Carey developed his artistic ability and cultural knowledge from an early age. Artistry is in his blood. His father Victor, his great, great grandfather Charlie James, and his great aunt Ellen Neel, are all renowned wood carvers. Being of British and Kwagiulth/Salish descent, Carey has been able to draw upon each of these cultures for his inspiration. He carved a Spirit Pole for the 2008 North American Indigenous Games and also carved an installation piece for the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Born in Scotland, Cim MacDonald is our long time curator and an enormous asset to the Festival of Murals. She trouble shoots, maintains, cleans, sometimes restores and even removes the weeds in front of our murals and statues. Cim is already one of our mural artists and has recently won several photographic awards. Her paintings, as well as her award winning giclees and photographs, can be found in corporate and private collections.
I will also let you know once again that our Emily Carr series is under the Distinguished Patronage of The Honourable Steven L. Point, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

_________
"An Eagle appeared in the sky and blessed the Chemainus Skidegate Eagle ceremony by its presence”

Most incredible and hard to comprehend – at the start of the day on April 23 we observed an Eagle in the sky at the highway
entrance to Chemainus just after the ceremony, an Eagle circled for several minutes over the gathering,
which as you might know has a very special meaning in the First Nation culture.

September 25 2010 and April 23 2011
Ackowledgements:
 

We appreciate the following assistance during the entire creative process or/and during the reveal ceremonies.

James Cowpar and his mother for the Skidegate Band Council
Chief Wilbur Jack for permissions given 
Hwiemtun Fred Roland Penelakut MC
Florence James Penelakut Blessing
Sqwuleethiye Anne Crocker Penelakut Prayer
Mayor Tom Walker and Council
Carey Newman Master Carver artist
Cim MacDonald Mural Painter
Dr Karl Schutz inspiration, creative talent and coordinator
Coastal Community Credit Union managment team
Jean Crowder for attendance
John Koury for attendance
Ron Cantelon for attendance and Representing Tourism Ministry

Construction:
Outstanding thank you mentions go to:
Hillside Stone for donating the Rockery
The North Cowichan Municipality for part landscaping
Communities in Bloom for landscape coordination
Brad Grigor for the plaque design of all supporters as detailed below:

SEPTEMBER, 2010 & APRIL 23, 2011
Under the Distinguished Patronage of
THE HONOURABLE STEVEN L. POINT
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
ARTISTS
Carey Newman, Sculptor, Sooke, BC, Artist
Cim MacDonald, Painter, Chemainus, BC, Paintings Artist
Le_ : Emily Carr, Canoes & Totems, Alert Bay (1908-09)
Right: Emily Carr, Haida Totems, Cha_atl, Queen Charlotte
Islands (1912)
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Hwiemtun, Fred Roland
WELCOME AND BLESSINGS
Mayor Tom Walker, North Cowichan
Florence James, Penelakut Tribe, 2010
Anne Crocker, Sqwuleethiye, Penelakut Tribe Spokesperson
James Cowpar, Skidegate Band Council
Carey Newman, Master Carver
CONTRIBUTORS & COMMUNITY BUILDERS
Lou Roelofsen, President, Chemainus Festival of Murals Society 2010-2011
Dr. Karl Schutz, Project Coordinator
Municipality of North Cowichan
Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn, Painting Sponsor
Chemainus BC BIA
John Beggs, Chemainus, BC, Backhoe Work
Sure Span Ready Mix, Duncan, BC
Rainer Carls, Chemainus, BC, Aluminum Frame Structure
Crane Force, Chemainus, BC
Dwayne B&L Lumber, Chemainus, BC,
First Growth Cedar Cladding
Frank McGerocal & Sons, Chemainus, BC,
Assembly & Construction
Lealand Contracting Ltd., Chemainus, BC, Eagle Installation
Wayne Winiecki, 29 Palms, California, Construction
Coastal Credit Union, Chemainus Branch, Event Sponsor
Hillside Stone & Garden, Decorative Stone Supplies

“For me this piece is about bringing together the past and the present. It is about the
continuation of an artistic cycle. I hope that through this process my people will feel
a sense of pride that our ancestors inspired Emily Carr. From the original Skidegate
Eagle, to Emily s painting, to my own interpretation ... the cycle continues.”
— Carey Newman

FIRST NATIONS VILLAGES
AS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF EMILY CARR
Emily Carr Series #2
CHEMAINUS EMI LY CARR OUTDOOR ART GALLERY
~1871–19 45~

.........

April 23 2011 Skidegate Eagle unveiling Picture Gallery

Presentation by Skidegate Councilor James Cowpar