West Coast art challenges traditions

Contemporary West Coast First Nations art takes the spotlight in new exhibitArtwork that mixes pop culture, spirituality and First Nations culture will be showcased this summer at a vibrant new exhibit at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.

Challenging Traditions: Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast features 75 works by 40 active First Nations artists in British Columbia.Comment:  The piece below--a thunderbird or raven on a cross--is an awesome juxtaposition of "pop culture, spirituality and First Nations culture." To me it says that Native and Christian stories of creation are the same or similar.

For more on the subject, see Eiteljorg Celebrates Contemporary Art and Contemporary Artists Struggle.

Below:  "Creator, by Don Yeomans, is among the works included in the exhibition, which spans art veterans like Yeomans and Robert Davidson to newcomers on the scene." (Trevor Mills/McMichael Canadian Art Collection)