Redefining Each Other

Description

A black and red raven, REDefining each otherA black and red raven, refining each otherIn Northwest Coast cultures, raven is an agent of change and transformation. The ravens in this design symbolize contemporary Coast Salish artists redefining each other through influence and inspiration. As a contemporary Coast Salish artist, I believe in humbly acknowledging the influence and inspiration of my contemporaries, established and emerging. Unfortunately, in the politics of post-colonial disempowerment, some people are not always encouraging or supportive of each other. This design is a tribute to new Coast Salish artists who have inspiRED me, such as Dylan Thomas, Stuart Pagaduan, Angela Marston, Jason Gobin, and Thomas Cannell. These young Coast Salish artists have inspiRED me since my print ‘Defining Each Other’.”-lessLIE This limited edition silkscreen print titled “Redefining Each Other” by lessLIE was hand produced by the screen printing process. It is the only limited edition printing of this design. The artist has inspected and signed each copy in the edition. All trial copies of this edition have been destroyed and the printing stencils obliterated.Leslie Robert Sam was born in Duncan, BC in 1973. He adopted the artist name lessLIE in reference to the deception and betrayal that First Nations peoples suffered as a result of colonization.When lessLIE was six months old, he and his mother moved to Seattle to be closer to other family members, in particular his grandfather, Gary Rice. lessLIE credits his grandfather with instilling in him, and encouraging the passion to be an artist. He believes that having spent those formative years in a large urban centre has influenced the direction of his art, as it relates to issues of environment, dispossession and race.lessLIE holds a B.A. in First Nations Studies. While working on his degree, in 1995, he began studying Coast Salish art, in particular, the works of contemporary artist Susan Point. He was also encouraged and inspired by his cousin Joseph Wilson. Other influences include Manuel Salazar, Maynard Johnny Jr., Shaun Peterson, and Luke Marston.lessLIE’s works can be found in collections around the world and form part of the collection of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV) and the Westf?lisches Museum f?r Naturkunde in M?nster, Germany.