You’re invited to explore the relationship between culture and ecology in the latest exhibition at Deer Lake Gallery.
The Burnaby Arts Council presents Mother Tree Cry: The Last Stand, by Rande Cook. It’s on at the gallery until Aug. 21.
“This body of work will bring you along Rande Cook’s journey to restoring the land which breathes life into the Ma’amtagila people, and the old-growth forests, both being driven to extinction,” says a press release from the gallery.
The release notes the exhibition explores “the beautiful symbiotic relationship between culture and ecology.”
“Listen and observe as the cedars reveal their stories through Rande’s works. As their voices are amplified here, consider the absence of them. What is the future of Northwest Coast art if they are silenced forever?”
Cook is a Kwakwaka’wakw multimedia artist born in Alert Bay.
He found his passion for artistic creativity at an early age, studying traditional jewelry and carving techniques under several master craftsmen including carver John Livingston.
In 1991, Cook moved to Victoria, where he was exposed to a wide range of art forms and practices from the Western tradition. With his accumulation of heritage, knowledge and experience, Cook continually pushes boundaries to create provocative works that challenge audiences to reconsider the role of traditional techniques for contemporary art-making.
The gallery is at 6584 Deer Lake Ave., and it’s open Tuesdays through Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Visits to the gallery are regulated by COVID-19 guidelines.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, jmaclellan@burnabynow.com.
