Seeing his design on the side of the BC Ferries vessel the Salish Heron for the first time put everything into perspective for Maynard Johnny Jr.
The Penelakut Tribe member and renowned Coast Salish artist was at BC Ferriessa国际传媒� fleet maintenance unit yard in Richmond last week with his daughter and grandson to view the artwork on the ferry. The enormity of it captivated him right away, considering his project started out as a six inch by two inch sketch.
sa国际传媒淚 was totally amazed how they could make it on such a large scale,sa国际传媒� Johnny conceded. sa国际传媒淭o see my work that large was cool.sa国际传媒�
The visit was documented, along with filming done in his Duncan studio, for a YouTube video.
The wings, tail and beak of Johnnysa国际传媒檚 Salish Heron design are essentially the size of a seven storey building laid on its side and replicated around the expansive hull of the ship. It left a massive impression with him and his family.
BC Ferries put out the call last summer for designs to grace the Salish Heron. Thirty-six artists made submissions, narrowed down to a short list of six before Johnnysa国际传媒檚 concept was selected in late September.
The new BC Ferries vessel was built in Poland and is part of a fleet that includes the Salish Orca, Salish Raven and Salish Eagle. The design for the Salish Eagle was done by another local artist, John Marston of the Stzsa国际传媒檜minus First Nation.
The other three vessels are already in service. The Salish Heron is due to go into service soon, operating between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay and within the Southern Gulf Islands.
Johnny knows this project will stand as a legacy not only to himself and his family, but to Indigenous people as a whole in many ways along the Truth and Reconciliation path.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 proud of this accomplishment and hope it inspires awareness of the first peoples of this territory and also create the desire to learn about the history,sa国际传媒� he indicated. sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 a lot of misconceptions of the way things are for Indigenous people.
sa国际传媒淥f course, I think about my grandkids and hopefully Isa国际传媒檓 around for my great grandkids. Thatsa国际传媒檚 the legacy I want to leave. In the last 10 years, my art allows me to get into places I wouldnsa国际传媒檛 be able to before.
sa国际传媒淢y goal is to keep moving forward and keep creating awareness so we can all heal.sa国际传媒�
Johnny Jr. was born in 1973 in Campbell River and has Coast Salish descent on his fathersa国际传媒檚 side from Penelakut Island and Kwakwakasa国际传媒檞akw on his mothersa国际传媒檚 side from Cape Mudge on Quadra Island. He spent time as a youth in Washington state before returning to Canada.
Johnny is primarily a self-taught artist. Hesa国际传媒檚 been studying and perfecting his craft since the age of 17.
Johnnysa国际传媒檚 desire to continually evolve as an artist knows no bounds. Itsa国际传媒檚 been a busy past year for him thatsa国际传媒檚 also included an appearance on the Still Standing CBC TV show segment on Chemainus to talk about an archway project for Waterwheel Park and he also has a Chemainus mural in the works called Rebirth that will be installed in the summer.
sa国际传媒淢y first thought process is what else could I do?sa国际传媒� Johnny conceded. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 trying to figure out what else I can do and take my work to another level, do something no one else has done.sa国际传媒�
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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