James Harry & Lauren Brevner: The Greatful Heron
Title: The Greatful Heron
Artists: James Harry - Squamish (Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw) & Lauren Brevner
Event: Art Smash
Year: 2018
Details: These two artists have been collaborating on artworks for the last few years. They have been amalgamating their styles together to find a balance of approaches and techniques. This is their first full mural together. The wall’s particular shape reminded James of a long house. Traditionally, a long house is a place of gathering, sharing food and stories, so they wanted to use this space to tell a story from Lauren’s (Haitian/Japanese) background and put a Salish twist on it.
About James Harry:
James (Nexw’Kalus-Xwalacktun) Harry was born October 31, 1989 in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is of Squamish Nation (Swxwú7meshḵ) and European decent (Scottish, and German). James spent much of his childhood and early adolescence immersed in art. He learned First Nations stories, form and design, and carving skills from his father, Xwalacktun (Rick Harry), a master carver of the Squamish Nation. Similarly, Jennifer Kleinsteuber, James’s mother and an accomplished painter, gave him hands-on experience with drawing and painting. He developed his own techniques and methodology, expanding on his father's work and beginning to formulate a contemporary approach to Aboriginal art and practice. When he was in secondary school, James began his career as an artist by carving the doors of the BC Aboriginal Sports Hall of Fame. He attended Emily Carr University of Arts and Design, obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a major in Visual Arts in 2014. His studies focused on integrating traditional Coast Salish art forms with contemporary concepts and materials.
As an ECUAD student, James received scholarships and bursaries in recognition for his rigorous art practice and academic success. The YVR Art Foundation honoured him with the Career Artist Scholarship in 2011. This allowed him the opportunity to create “From Sea to Sky”, a 6’ high aluminum totem pole that emitted LED lights through Coast Salish iconography cut by water jet. In the same year, James completed a coop internship with various artists in the United Kingdom where he learned metal casting. As part of this experience, he taught Aboriginal sculpture, painting and drawing and shared stories and culture in various Scottish communities.
In 2013, James was chosen as student representative to travel with faculty members to the Sakahan Exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada. He has become a spokesperson for Indigenous peoples nationally and internationally. He has been invited to Scotland and Germany and to the parliament buildings in Ottawa to represent Aboriginal people of Canada and to address issues related to reconciliation. The Royal Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh brought James to the Commonwealth Games of 2014 to demonstrate the integration of his individual style with traditional Coast Salish art practices. James was also commissioned to create the gold, silver and bronze International Games medals in 2014.
For the last decade, James has worked in different school districts, the City of Vancouver and non-profit agencies to produce community based art projects reflecting Canadian heritage, culture, and ideologies. A large portion of that time has been spent engaging youth and students with creating permanent art and sharing teachings about Coast Salish art and knowledge. This community work provides him with a network of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal connections. He has a unique capacity for developing thematically significant work that connects all people to the ecology of place while building greater understanding between cultures. The whole process brings people together, changes ideas, and leaves a legacy to remind the community that transformations occurred.
At the same time, James has been investing in his art business, developing an individualized focus on ways of integrating the traditional with the contemporary. His current focus is three fold: using metal, light and traditional formline to create totems and other contemporary works, carving yellow and red cedar in traditional and abstract works, often larger than life, and working collaboratively with Lauren Brevner to create innovative carving/painting works that reflect First Nations stories while making a statement about the search for identity and wholeness.
About Lauren Brevner:
Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Lauren Brevner grew up in a mixed heritage family rich with culture and inspiration. In 2009, she moved to Osaka, Japan in hopes of reconnecting with her roots. There, Lauren had the honour of apprenticing under renowned artist, Sin Nakayamal. It was through her mentor that she first began her work as an artist. Nakayamal was the inspiration that sparked her journey to self-taught fruition.
The composition of her paintings explore mixed-media through the use of oil, acrylic, and resin. This unique technical style is combined with a collage of Japanese chiyogami, yuzen, and washi paper on wooden panels. Her influence originates from the stylistic elements of traditional Japanese art and culture. She aspires to reinvent the eloquent tradition of using gold and silver leaf in art.
Lauren’s paintings primarily involve the interpretation of female portraiture. She plays with polychromatic layers; the figures within it existing in surreal and isometric spheres. The women embody strength and femininity through sombre silence. Their gaze a myriad narrative. Lauren Brevner seeks to create a commentary on the subject of women and their depiction in art throughout the ages. Her portrayal of women serves to empower rather than objectify: a reflection of the vitality of sensuality over sexuality.
Vancouver Mural Festival’s Indigenous Programs supports artists and organizations in the creation of public art and workshops for youth. We believe Coast Salish and other Indigenous artists have the power to reshape urban spaces by reflecting their contemporary and traditional values, stories, experiences, and ideas in this lasting and tangible way.
Vancity’s generous support enables us to better connect the stories of these programs with the public. Below you will find information in the form of videos, pictures, interviews, articles, and more.
Note: Our definition of Indigenous includes First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.
