Grizzli Art Gallery: Tmixw - That Which Gives Life

Join us on Thursday, June 24th from 5:00pm-7:00pm for the official opening of the exhibition ‘Tmixw- That Which Gives Life’, a Syilx Okanagan art instalment showcasing works from Suknaqinx artists David Wilson Sookinakin and Coralee Miller. Take part in an exciting evening filled with art, dance and culture. Get an exclusive preview of the exhibition before it opens to the public, meet-and-greet with the artists and view a special dance performance by Candace Jack in representation of Westbank First Nations.

David Wilson:
The work of David Wilson explores traditional ways of Interior Salish People;
An evolution of ancient artform using symbols to form unique
style of Okanagan pictographs. Integrated within traditional circle forms,
his art expresses stories and motifs; executed in brilliant acrylic colours.

David is Syilx nation, born in the Vernon area of the Okanagan Valley and
a member of the Okanagan Indian Band. As a young boy, David discovered Interior Salish pictographs, and with formal studies of Coast Salish, Haida and Plains First Nation artform, he integrates images of these traditional pictographs into his work.

Wilson works with various surfaces and medium; canoes, drums, canvas, and wood. He paints brilliant coloured acrylic on various medium, with traditional S and U form, ovoids, dots, unique stylized prong within traditional circle. David’s work is published and exhibited in various galleries and public spaces throughout the Okanagan Valley and the Lower Mainland.

Coralee Miller:
Coralee is an Okanagan/syilx artist who portrays cultural pride through her paintings. She gains valuable inspiration from her family, community and oral stories of which are her favorite theme. Coralee uses art as a way of looking deeper into the syilx cultural values and bridging the moral lessons and values into a modern day understanding. Coralee focuses on the lessons of humour and the importance of humility through the ever boastful and immortal trickster spirit, senklip (coyote).