Blanketing The City IV: Cathedral Square
A Mural Series Celebrating Coast Salish Weaving
One of our most anticipated projects in 2021 will transform Cathedral Square Park in downtown Vancouver into a site of renewal and celebration, becoming a re-energized public space that will celebrate the visual culture of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Blanketing The City is a public art mural series and Reconciliation process designed by Debra Sparrow in collaboration with Vancouver Mural Festival. Begun in 2018, the series reclaims the urban landscape of Vancouver and boldly asserts the visibility and culture of Indigenous cultures while affirming the resurgence and importance of Coast Salish weaving on these lands. It is intended for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to build a deeper understanding of living Coast Salish Culture.
For the latest project in the series, Blanketing The City IV: Cathedral Square, Debra Sparrow invited master weavers Chief Janice George (Sḵwxwú7mesh) and Angela George (səlilwətaɬ) to collaborate on the design of 7 landmark murals blanketing Cathedral Square Park.The mural boldly transmits and magnifies the visibility of xwməθkwəyəm, Sḵwxwú7mesh and səlilwətaɬ culture on their ancestral lands.
“There’s a beautiful saying that [says] “without a vision, people perish” and our vision was [uprooted] by history and yet it didn’t fully disappear but we brought that vision back because this is a vision of not only our ancestors but a vision of our people today… this is about how we tell the story of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-waututh.” – Debra Sparrow
Located above an underground BC Hydro sub-station, Cathedral Square Park is one of several permanent structures designed by Bruno Freschi for Expo 86. Today, the surface of the park’s massive cement pillars re-establish and proclaim the visual culture of the three local nations. As the invisible hydro substation underneath the park supplies power to the downtown core, Blanketing The City powers a resurgent visibility of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh culture across the city.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
DEBRA SPARROW (ΘƏLIΧʷƏLʷƏT)
Debra has been involved in the revival of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) weaving for 25+ years. Her art and design work has been featured by institutions around British Columbia including the YVR, MOA, Indian Summer Festival, VAG, VMF, and Vancouver Biennale. Debra Sparrow has completed many commissions over this time including a piece for the First Nations Gallery at the Government House in Victoria, the design of the logo for the Olympic Canadian Hockey Team to name a few. Debra is a recipient of the BC Creative Achievement Award.
Read Debra Sparrow’s interview HERE
CHIEF JANICE GEORGE (CHEPXIMIYA SIYAM’)
Janice is an accomplished weaver and teacher from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. She co-founded L’hen Awtxw Weaving House to share the teachings and practice of traditional Coast Salish wool weaving. Chief Janice George graduated from Capilano University, North Vancouver BC, and the Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM, USA. She is a hereditary chief, trained museum curator and educator. George also co-organized the 1st Canada Northwest Coast Weavers Gathering, with other Squamish Nation Weavers.
Read Chief Janice George’s interview HERE
ANGELA GEORGE (QʷƏNAT)
Angela lives and works in the səl’ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation in North Vancouver
with her husband, Gabriel George, grandson of late Chief Dan Georger and her four children. Angela has dedicated her career to the betterment of First Nations people and communities. Traditionally groomed, she has a strong understanding of her culture, spiritual teachings and the impacts of colonization and barriers that plague First Nations communities. She is humbled by the gift of traditional weaving, holding this connection to her late mother and Squamish ancestry dearly. Angela loves to learn and teach weaving and strives to carry this sacred practice with the utmost integrity.
Read Angela George’s interview HERE