Modern and ancient art combined

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On a breezy early fall evening, First Nations Creations, an art co-operative fully owned and operated by First Nations artists, celebrated its one-year anniversary in the historic Gastown in Vancouver.

Only a stone's throw from the famous steam clock and surrounded by souvenir stores boasting commercialized Native tchotches, First Nations Creations aims to breathe fresh air into Vancouver's First Nations art scene.

"The West Coast is a saturated market in terms of the traditional masks and carvings," said Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, general manager of the gallery. "They are beautiful and have a deep cultural meaning in history, but the market has reached its capacity."

The co-op's artistic approach is evident in the work showcased in the anniversary exhibition, titled Random Indian Acts. A fusion of modern materials and images by innovators such as Peter Morin, Kevin McKenzie, Sabina Hill and Corrine Hunt sets the standard for contemporary First Nations creativity.

Morin, from the Tahltan Nation, is well-known for the political messages in his mixed-media work, and he often incorporates artifacts and images locked away in museums. "My role in art is to regain the articles of culture that were taken by the collectors and to place them back into Tahltan society," said Morin.

McKenzie, of the Cree Nation, is an industrial artist who takes Native American icons -such as an Apache face and Mohawk imagery-that corporations have used for their logos, and fuses them with technologically advanced materials such as chrome and Plexiglas. "It addresses the parallels I have perceived between modern technology and the ancient First Nations esthetic," McKenzie said.

HillHunt is an artistic partnership between jewellery designer Corrine Hunt of the Kwakiutl Nation and architect Sabrina Hill. Their high-end furniture line combines the rich history and culture of Aboriginal design with a contemporary esthetic.

As a collective, the four artists represent a different side of First Nations art, which can appeal to a wider audience.

"It's fresh, new, exciting, and gives us a glimpse into the future of First Nations art," Bear Robe said.

The co-op currently has just under 30 members, who pay only $10 a year to exhibit their work in the studio and have a say in how the gallery is run. Normally, art co-op fees can be as high as $400 monthly. First Nations Creations also charges significantly less for commission when a piece of artwork is sold through its studio. At 35 to 40 per cent, the gallery fulfills its not-for-profit mandate.

Since last February, with funding from Human Resources Development Canada's ACCESS program, First Nations Creations has also been training youth to do retail sales, marketing, and customer and artist relations. The program lasts four months and is filled with on-the-job training.

"They learn about their own culture and history and they're exposed to a wide variety of art and nations," said Bear Robe. "It's very good cultural, professional and social experience for our youth."