The actual art auction takes place on November 26 @ Rocky Mountaineer Station - 1755 Cottrell Street, Vancouver BC
For more information visit: http://artforlife.net/
I will be in attendance. Send me a message if you'd like to meet up and get a personal introduction to my work.
For more information visit: http://www.tiafair.com/
Museum of Anthropology, from the series Artifacts of Authenticity
I'm showing the new photo series made in collaboration with my good friend Sonny Assu in his solo exhibition at the West Vancouver Museum. The opening reception is Tuesday, September 13 @7pm.
Artist Statement
Artifacts of Authenticity is a collaborative project between Sonny Assu and Eric Deis that deals with the issues of reclaiming identity and space by documenting the waste of the dominant affluent culture. Through as series of photographs, they have explored the conventions of anthropological spaces as the perceived voice of authenticity for indigenous artifacts.
Photographing discarded cedar objects in-situ, Artifacts of Authenticity challenges the three eyes of “authority” placed upon Aboriginal arts and culture: The Anthropology institution, the Commercial Art Gallery and the stereotypical tourist trap. Through their images, they have utilized the camera as a conceptual record of "authority" and captured the cedar objects in circumstances staged solely for the camera.
The series is an inversion of authoritative voice of the anthropologists; the gallerist; the curators; the historians and the purveyors of the stereotype for the tourist. It calls into question the meaning of authenticity of what or who is considered Aboriginal.
I have been commissioned to shoot a series of photographs for the East Fraserlands River District Public Art Plan. It is part of a new development by Parklane Homes at the site of a former lumber mill near Marine Drive & Kerr Street in Vancouver. This has been a really interesting project to be involved with because it is probably the very first time an artist has been commissioned to create their artwork to help shape a planning policy. It reflects the innovate work being done at Cole Projects, the author of the art plan.
I received a letter in the mail today from Kathleen Bartels, Director of the Vancouver Art Gallery. They have acquired my photograph Hipsters and Drug Dealer as part of their permanent collection. Thank you to everyone at the VAG for supporting my artwork. It is an honour to be part of the collection.
Other Sights for Artists' Projects had commissioned Bruce Grenville to write an essay about my 43' x 32' photographic installation in downtown Vancouver, Last Chance.
It is a sad picture, and one that carries a surprising anxiety. The small house is surrounded by chain link fencing, topped with barbed wire, a 'beware of dog' sign bars the door, and nearby another hand-scrawled posting advises that the house and lot are not for sale. It is a tiny fortress, buttressed against a panic driven transformation of the urban landscape -- last chance to buy, last chance to save the house, last chance to escape - it is hard to tell which is more important - but it is definitely the last chance.
You can read the essay online.
I am featured "In Profile" in the Sept/October issue of THIS Magazine. Jackie Wong came by my studio to interview me and discuss my artwork and the current state of living in Vancouver.
You can read the article online or view of PDF of the printed magazine.
