Urban thunderbirds

This catalog highlights new and recent works from Coast Salish artists lessLIE and Dylan Thomas, and Kwakwaka'wakw artists Rande Cook and Francis Dick. The work encompasses personal stories, community histories and exploration of current events offering a unique view of First Nations art production in this region. Varied in their approaches, the work selected for this exhibition references cross-cultural forms, re-appropriation of North American visual culture, and an honouring of individuals and ideas from the cultural history of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka'wakw communities. The themes explored by the artists range from intimate personal narratives, and extend to broader mainstream issues functioning as social commentary. The works reflect urban First Nations identity from the unique perspective of these four artists.