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Portfolio Canadian Contemporary Coast Salish Native Artist Darlene Gait |
Biography
Darlene Emmerrencianna Gait was born on Vancouver Island and is a Coast Salish contemporary artist from Esquimalt Nations in British Columbia, Canada..
"My work is a mixture of contemporary and realism with a strong sense of Canadian Native History and Nature." Darlene began painting as a child and is inspired by nature and her First Nations heritage. Her work is unique in that it is created with her emotions that allow the viewer to connect and relate to the stories told through her brush. Her poetry, created with each painting, allows people to understand each image through the artist’s perception. Read more....
Comments - November 2010
"Darlene,
I could not let the week end without telling you what a wonderful event the art gallery tour was for all my class - students and adults. It was great that you could be there in person to narrate the powerpoint presentation of your work over the years. Your work is truly magical and I wanted to say what a personal pleasure it was to meet you. Your gift to each of us was very generous and appreciated more than you could know. Thank-you again for all you do for the community, Sandra."
-- Sandra Fabri, School District #61 -- Victoria BC
Curriculum Vitae
Education
An intense 12-month certificate program introducing computer graphic art and design, as well as beginning stages of animation. Preparing the individual for business marketing, and portfolio presentation.
Graphic Design and Illustration Nanaimo, British Columbia - 1997-1999
Course's included first and second year photography and dark room development, calligraphy, graphic design, book illustration, live nude painting, marker rendering for commercial illustration, art marketing, color theory.
Solo Exhibitions
2011 Star Fish Art Gallery, Salt Spring Island, April 22-May 13th. 23 original paintings, and limited edition prints.
2011 Outdoor Kiosk painting, design and artwork, created by Archeological finds in Esquimalt Lagoon area. To be unveiled in summer of 2011.
2010 International Aboriginal Conference, Tofino, Vancouver Island BC, Tin Wis Resort. May 14-18/2010, (6 original paintings, 40 small prints and art cards). Meet the artist event, evening of Saturday May 15/2010.
2009 Banner art in View Royal, Peace Mural Society, July 2009-2010.
2009 Spirit of My Ancestors, Goward House, Victoria, B.C. Canada.
2005 DuQua Native Art Gallery, Deanna Paque, Bend Oregon, United States,
Deschutes Native Art Gallery, Bend Oregon, United States,
Live Painting, exhibiting 20 original paintings, and 20 limited edition prints as well as art cards and books.
2005 The Longhouse Project, Fundraiser exhibition, Seattle, USA. (12 original paintings and art cards), meet the artist in the evening. September/2005
2006 DuQua Native Art Gallery, Bend Oregon, USA. ( 20 original paintings, 440 art cards and 20 limited edition prints). Meet the artist in the evening. November/2005.
2004 Vancouver Native Healing Conference, Sponsored by Four Worlds International, Delta Hotel, Vancouver, BC,
Eagle Feather Art Gallery, Victoria, BC, Thunderbird Park, Mungo Martin Long House, Victoria BC Museum.
2004 Eagle Feather Art Gallery, Victoria, BC.
2004 Thunderbird Park, Mungo Martin Long House, Victoria BC Museum, limited edition prints shown during and after dance performances. August 10
2003 Harper Mountain Native Healing Circle Solo Exhibit, Kamloops, BC,
Group Exhibits
2011 The Unity Wall, June.
2011 2nd year unveiling of the Land and Sea Mural design, June 04, 2011. Art work and design by Darlene Gait, spot illustrations by Butch Dick, Songhees Nation. Painted by several youth artist, selected by juried process, portfolio and character based. Native from Vancouver Island, with 1 non-native.
2010 Government Health Center, Victoria, BC, 6 Limited Edition Prints displayed for 6 months.
2010 WHAM (World Art Market) Exhibit, Vancouver, BC, September 18-19 Vancouver UBC Museum of Anthropology.
2010 Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics - 12 day Aboriginal Exhibit
2010 World Seabird Art Exhibit (1 of 6 artists selected to exhibit), September 7-15th
2010 Art of All Sorts,The Empress Hotel, 3 original paintings
2010 Out of Hand Exhibit, Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC (1 of 20 artist's selected to exhibit)
2009-Current Land and Sea Mural Project, Ogden Point, An unprecedented and historic project supported by the Victoria Harbor Authority, Victoria, B.C.
2009 The Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria's BC Women Artists
(Selected to exhibit on opening evening, with other very prominent Canadian women artists)
2009 BC Women Artists Group Exhibit, Community Arts Council, Victoria, B.C.
2009 The Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria - BC'sWomen Artists
(Selected to exhibit on opening evening, with other very prominent Canadian women artists)
2008 Native Games Exhibit, Quw’utsun’ Native Center, Nanaimo, B.C.
2008 The Empress Hotel, North American Chiefs meeting, Victoria, B.C.
2008 Aboriginal Cultural Festival, Squamish Adventure Centre, Native Group Exhibit.
2008 Canadian Land Claims Exhibition, Empress Hotel, Victoria, B.C.
2008 Garden Exhibition, Governor Generals House, Victoria, B.C.
2007 Judy Hills Native Art Gallery, Duncan B.C.
2007 Pearkes Arena Exhibition, Victoria, B.C. Group exhibit, original art and limited edition prints.
2007 Cowichan International Aboriginal Festival of Film & Art Gallery of Artists, Cowichan Theatre. Cowichan, B.C
2007 Quw’utsun’ Native Art Gallery, Duncan, B.C. August
2007/08 Out of Hand Exhibition, Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC
2006/07 Copper Moon Native Art Gallery, Nanaimo, B.C.
2006 Quw’utsun’ Native Art Gallery, Duncan, B.C. August
2005/06 Quw’utsun’ Native Art Gallery, Duncan, B.C.
2006 Pearkes Arena Exhibition, Victoria, BC
2006 Quw'utsun' Native Art Gallery, Duncan, BC
2006 Cowichan International Aboriginal Festival of Film & Art Gallery of Artists Cowichan Theatre TELUS Lobby
2005 Quw’utsun’ Native Art Gallery, Duncan, B.C. July
2005 The Cowichan Valley Centre for the Arts presents Cowichan Aboriginal Film Festival First Nation Art Event Cowichan Valley Arts Centre Duncan, BC
2005 Cowichan Aboriginal Film Festival First Nation Art Event, The Cowichan Valley Centre for the Arts Cowichan Valley Arts Centre Duncan, B.C.
2004 Eagle Feather Art Gallery, Victoria, B.C.
2003 Cowichan Valley Artist Group opening, CVAC, Duncan, B.C.
Media and Reviews
2011 Land and Sea Mural - Phase II Blessing: Chek TV "Breakwater Mural" - June
2011 Radioshow and podcast. January 29, 2011
2010 The Diversity Reporter. "Land & Sea" Article by Randy Hume. Pages # 9 & 10, Victoria, BC, December 1
2010 1 hour Interview with Warren Odess-Gillet, for A Bahai Perspective (Podcast) Radio-November 29th
2010 2 - page review from Randy Hume- Diversity Report Newspaper, Victoria, BC Canada-November 27th
2010 Victoria Times Colonist (Out of Hand Exhibit) front cover with original painting.
2010 Victoria Times Colonist (Mural art) Front Cover July
2010 Victoria Times Colonist (mural art) Front Cover September
2009 Interview for Land and Sea Mural, The New Canoe, Victoria, B.C.
2009 Land and Sea Mural Interview with A-Channel TV, Victoria, B.C.
2009 “First Nations murals decorate breakwater”, front page Times Colonist
2008 Emily Carr and Robert Bateman student art show, art contest judge at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC Canada. May 10th and 11th.
2008 Newspaper, Darren stone, August 11, 2009 issue, art exhibit art section.
2008 “Esquimalt artist Darlene Gait's paintings honor, promote healing”, Indian Country Today Native, Richard Walker. USA.
2008 Canadian Brustrokes Magazine. (P. 7)
2007 Interview with APTN, storybook designed for children’s show: Tiga Talk, Hummingbird Productions Victoria.
2007 Canoe TV Interview, April Ingham, Aarrow Productions Inc.
2007 Cowichan Valley Free Press Newspaper, front-page coverage in honor of accepting the mural painting for Emily Carr.
2007 The News Leader Pictorial “The Arts”, Aaron Bichard.
2007 CBC Radio Interview, Paul Vasey, Victoria, B.C.
2007 Canadian Literature- Book Review on “Secret of the Dance,” Illustrations, Judith Saltman.
2006 “First Nations Artist”, Canadian Brushstrokes Magazine, Penny Rogers.
2006 “Listening to Her Dreams”, Focus Magazine, Linda Rogers, Victoria, B.C.
2006 The Globe and Mail- Book Review on “Secret of the Dance,” Illustrations.
2006 CM Magazine- Book Review on “Secret of the Dance,”
2006 Horn Book-Book Review on “Secret of the Dance,” Illustrations.
2005 Bulletin Newspaper, Review on Solo Art Exhibit, DuQua Native Art Gallery, Bend. Bulletin.com, Oregon, Andrew Moore.
2003 “Inspired by her Dreams”, Times Colonist, Robert Amos, Victoria, B.C.
Publications
2011 Gulf Island Driftwood, by Elizabeth Nolan, April 20th, 2011, Coast Salish Artist at Starfish Gallery. (Full page review)
2010 Indian Journal Magazine (USA) (Mural Project and Art Gallery interview, still pending)
2010 Indian Gaming Magazine (USA) (Cover Art and Bio)
2010 Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art and biography page in magazine June
2010 Times Colonist, front cover art and write up on exhibit on "Art of All Sorts".
2010 Indian Journal Magazine (USA) (Mural Project and Art Gallery interview, still pending)
2010APTN Television program ‘Tiaga’ guest starring as an art teacher for Fall June 29th
2010 The New Canoe, Gallery and art interview.
2010 ‘A’ Channel News, Gallery and art interview.
2010 Tiga Talks- Children show on APTN (Aboritinal Public Television Network) showing artist in show room working with children teaching them how to paint. (September) Aerrow productions, Victoria, BC
2009 Indian Gaming Magazine (USA) (Cover Art and Bio)
2009 The New Canoe, Gallery and art interview.
2009 Mural Documentary Film on designing the wall and working with the youth (Currently available on Internet, but will be shown on APTN and other interested channels upon completion of the 1.2 km mural. Native, educational documentary). Filmed by Chris Mock,
supported by GVHA.
2009 Tiga Talks- Art work used for story book edition, by Aerrow productions, Victoria, BC
2009 Television Interview, Canoe TV, Victoria, Subject: Art and Storytelling, Live in my art gallery on Esquimalt Nations. 15 minute time slot. April Ingham, Production Manager, Aarrow Productions Inc.
2008-2010 Television Interview, Canoe TV, Victoria, Subject: Art and Storytelling, Live in my art gallery on Esquimalt Nations. 15 minute time slot. April Ingham,
2008 Cowichan Valley Indigenous Games exhibit, August
2008 - September - Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art
2007 - October - Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art
2007 - August - Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art
2007 - 1888 Online Press Release, (Totem Pole Raising Ceremony), February 15
2007 Nation Talk (Totem Pole Raising), February 17,
2007 PR Leap (Totem Pole Raising), February 16,
2007 Newswire Today (Totem Pole Raising), February 14,
2007 United Native Nations-e News (Totem Pole Raising), February 15, 2007 Bcma-l (Totem Pole Raising), February 15,
2007 Native Peoples Magazine (Totem Pole Raising), July/August issue.
2007 Speeple News (Totem Pole Raising), February 15,
2007 Focus Magazine, Victoria art magazine, written by Linda Rodgers October
2007 Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art and biography page in magazine October
2007 Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art and biography page in magazine August
2007 The News Leader Pictorial "The Arts" written by Aaron Bichard, March 4
2007 Canadian Literature- Book Review on "Secret of the Dance," Illustrations Reviewed by Judith Saltman September
2007 CBC Radio Interview April
2007 Publish UR Articles (Totem Pole Raising), February 15
2007 Nation Talk (Totem Pole Raising), February 15
2007 Native On Line (Summer Celebration) One Moon Art Gallery August
2007 PR Compass (Totem Pole Raising), February 15
2006 - October - Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art
2006 - March - Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art
2006 Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art and biography page in magazine March
2006 Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art and biography page in magazine October
2006 The Globe and Mail- Book Review on "Secret of the Dance," Illustrations September 9
2006 Book-list-Book Review on "Secret of the Dance," Illustrations October 1
2006 Horn Book-Book Review on "Secret of the Dance," Illustrations November 1
2006 CM Magazine- Book Review on "Secret of the Dance," Illustrations, Review by John Dryden October 13
2006 Native Web (Art Advertisement) January 7
2005 - November - Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art
2005 The Bulletin (Newspaper), Review on Solo Art Exhibit, DuQua Native Art Gallery, Bend Bulletin.com, Oregon, by Andrew Moore. November 4
Production Manager, Aarrow Productions Inc.
2005 Indian Gaming Magazine, cover art and biography page in magazine November
2003 Times Colonist, interview in arts section of paper, by Robert Amos Oct 2
Awards and Honors
2007 “Catching Spring”, Secret of the Dance Color Book,” and “Murphy and Mousetrap
“Novels- selected for Canadian Aboriginal Books for School Catalogs, Association of
Book Publishers of B.C.
2006 “Catching Spring”, Chocolate Lily Book Award.
2004 People’s Choice Award for Best Artist in Cowichan Valley, “Verse & Visions” Image: “Balance”.
2003 L. Ron Hubbard- Illustrator of the Year Award Book Illustration, Hollywood, USA.
1999 Illustration and Poster Design Award, Moving Beyond Tolerance, Human Rights, Society, Malaspina University College, Nanaimo.
1996 Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Award, Continued Training in Arts.
2007 "Catching Spring" Novel - selected for Canadian Aboriginal Books for School Catalogs-Margaret Reynolds Executive Director, Association of Book Publishers of BC
2007 "Murphy and Mousetrap" Novel-selected for Canadian Aboriginal Books for School Catalogs-Margaret Reynolds Executive Director, Association of Book Publishers of BC
2007 "Secret of the Dance" Nominated for the Aboriginal Book of the Year.
2007 "Secret of the Dance" Color Book - selected for Canadian Aboriginal Books for School Catalogs-Margaret Reynolds Executive Director, Association of Book Publishers of BC October
2006 "Chocolate Lily" Book Award, "Catching Spring"
2004 People's Choice Award, for Best Artist in Cowichan Valley "Verse & Visions" Image: "Balance"
1996 Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Award for Continued Training in the arts, $6900.00 November
Television Shows and Projects
2011 June "HIWEST" First Nations Artist Forum. Panel discussion moderated by France Trépanier. Panel members: Darlene Gait, Rande Cook, Butch Dick, Tony Hunt Jr., Dylan Thomas, and special guest Steven Loft, former Aboriginal Curator of the National Gallery of Canada.
2011 The Unity Wall. June.
2010 Unveiling of the 400 foot ‘The Land and Sea Mural,’ created and designed by Darlene Gait, with elements of Butch Dicks design’s from Songhees Nation, BC Canada. The project is created to encourage young aboriginal artist’s from Esquimalt and Songhees Nation, as well as non-native young artists, to work together in creating beauty and unity.
2010 Tiga Talks, an Aboriginal children’s show on APTN, where I will star in an episode as an art teacher working with Native children to show them how to create art from the heart.
Professional Memberships
The Artists for Conservation Foundation, Selected Wild Life Artist
Arts For Development, Vancouver
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
Partners For Prosperity
Artist Statement
Much of my time is spent in the area of service to the Native youth and children, teaching and acting as a mentor, to those who are looking for direction in the arts. I believe that non-native children and youth deserve this knowledge too and will sometimes mix my class or teaching with multicultural backgrounds. Learning about the West Coast people gives back to our community and helps the progress of unity. I often go to elementary schools, to speak about the importance of the elimination of racism and acknowledging your ancestors, regardless of cultural background. This seems to inspire and teach respect on many levels. I believe education of the heart is lacking in all public schools and feel we have a responsibility to find a way to teach our children what they can’t get from our government. Lack of empathy is a very dangerous and unnecessary thing in this day and age. Very little effort is needed to give back somehow.
I often hold gatherings in my own home, inviting people who are interested in working with the First Nations people and teaching them how to interact, cultural boundaries and traditional ways. This is very helpful in the elimination of ignorance and prevents many misunderstandings. We always have a full house, which means there is a need for this teaching in our communities.
Being an artist helps in so many ways. I feel it is my purpose to act as a bridge between both native and non-native cultures. This is what my art stands for, this is who I am.
Collections of Paintings
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©Copyright Darlene Gait 1998 - 2011. All rights reserved.
No image may be partially or totally reproduced for any purpose without the express consent of the artist.