Kwantlen Youth will lead collaborative Art Mural Project at Jazz Fest
Fort Langley, BC – The public is being invited to make their mark by participating in a collaborative ‘paint by number’ art mural, presented by the Odlum Brown Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival and Kwantlen First Nation that will be a centrepiece at the Festival July 21-24.
“The mural is intended to mark Canada's emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic by having the community come together in-person to create a collaborative piece that reflects the theme of reflection, recovery and rejuvenation,” says Festival co-founder and Artistic Director Dave Quinn. “We invite everyone to join us in the painting of this beautiful symbolic mural.”
The 98 square foot outdoor mural will be based on a design by two Kwantlen First Nation artists, Elinor Atkins, whose traditional name is Miməwqθelət which translates to “the first bird to sing in the morning.” ,and Noah Atkins whose traditional name is Ncwaʕ, a very old name and held very close to the Joe family, it belonged to Noah’s maternal great, great grandfather who was born in 1818 and died in 1916. Ncwaʕ was the Chief of Shackan ~ The land of many small rocks.
The two Kwantlen First Nation artists are brother and sister and who were selected via a call for Kwantlen First Nation artist submissions. The selected artwork will be turned into a 7' X 14' image that will be mounted for the community to paint together at the Festival Art Zone on July 23rd and 24th. The artists will be in attendance for the public to meet and to help direct the painting of the mural.
As a 23-year-old Kwantlen First Nation and Nɬeʔkepmx artist, Elinor notes that art is a passion in her entire family and this opportunity to share with the broader community is very positive. “As a big sister, it is an honor to collaborate with my brother on something beautiful to share with all of those on our unceded territories. It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to practice the traditional intergenerational transfer of knowledge and it is a way that us as Kwantlen youth can engage with the surrounding community and share a little bit about us as Kwantlen people.”
The design we created is of butterflies and bumble bees with flowers, along a river side because it fits the theme of hope and rejuvenation perfectly,” continued Elinor. “In our culture butterflies represent hope, change, growth, and transformation. Bumble Bees represent community and communication. Flowers rebloom every year and bring light and color back into the world. And lastly, the Fraser River depicted in our concept design is a symbolic representation of us as Kwantlen people, we are known as people of the river. Our ancestors since the beginning of time have lived along this river and survived and thrived off its resources.”
The 2022 festival will also feature a Kwantlen Art & Cultural Exhibition to showcase the rich talents, culture, and history of Kwantlen First Nation. The public will be able to stroll through the free exhibited area to learn about Indigenous art, culture and history while enjoying Indigenous music and food.
“It is important to recognize that the festival is taking place on Kwantlen First Nation’s territory. A bridge separates Fort Langley, and Kwantlen First Nation community geographically and in other ways. However, the festival is trying to break down those barriers by collaborating with Kwantlen First Nation and sharing their culture with the aim of greater understanding, learning, and a step towards reconciliation,” says Karen Zukas, Festival co-founder and Executive Director.
Kwantlen First Nation Chief Marilyn Gabriel suggests the showcase builds on a unique collaboration that occurred in 2021 involving an Indigenous-Jazz fusion recording featuring several Kwantlen members and jazz trio, Triology. The event was recorded in the Kwantlen First Nation longhouse and then streamed for free around the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sZ3OHvI2NY&t=3182s. "It is through sharing that we can bring people together. Sharing together - one mind, one heart, one spirit - we are all one, says Chief Gabriel. “We have to continue sharing that with everyone because our world is in turmoil right now. We can keep showing them little ways in little gestures that we can get along."
THE ODLUM BROWN FORT LANGLEY JAZZ & ARTS FESTIVAL will take place July 21-24 and will be the biggest ever, with more than 60 bands and 300 musicians performing across eight indoor and outdoor stages.
Headline acts include blues guitarist and singer Sue Foley; jazz vocalist Molly Johnson, jazz-funk band The Shuffle Demons, jazz trumpeter Michael Sarian, jazz pianist and singer Champian Fulton, Afro Dominican Latin Jazz percussionist, Junior Santos and soul-gospel performer, Warren Dean Flandez - among others.
The event will also include the most extensive free stage lineup in the history of the event.
FOR DETAILED INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT AND FOLLOW THE FORT LANGLEY JAZZ & ARTS FESTIVAL: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
MEDIA TOOLS:
WATCH/SHARE the 2021 Best of the Fest video HERE. VIEW/CHECK OUT high-res photos HERE.
Here’s a link to our YouTube channel where the 2021 Best of the Fest and our 2021 highlight video is available.
ABOUT THE ODLUM BROWN JAZZ & ARTS FESTIVAL
The Fort Langley Jazz and Arts Festival is a not-for-profit cultural organization that makes accessible the highest caliber of jazz music and arts programming to a wide variety of audiences through the presentation of year-round concerts and events and an annual music and arts festival.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Laura Ballance Laura@LBMG.ca 604.771.5176