Lester Centre
https://www.lestercentre.ca/
As the heart of the arts in Prince Rupert, the Lester Centre can host any type of even, from theatrical performances to weddings; from convocations to town-hall meetings; from rock shows to conferences. The theatre seats 702 audience members, and the facility includes a large lobby, two concession stands, four changerooms, a green room, and a rehearsal room.
Ice House Gallery
https://www.icehousegallery.ca/
A Place for Art, Artists & Community. It is the Ice House's mission to provide a venue for B.C. North Coast Artists to share art, skills, information; and a place to market their work. The co-op is an equitable, sustainable and collaborative structure that benefits its members and patrons alike!
Visit our unique gallery in the Atlin Terminal along the Cow Bay waterfront in Prince Rupert, B.C.
Museum of Northern BC
https://www.museumofnorthernbc.com/
The magnificent Northwest Coast longhouse overlooking Prince Rupert Harbour is home to the Museum of Northern BC.
Internationally known for its exceptional collection and the quality of its exhibits, the Museum draws visitors from around the world
to experience its unique celebration of cultures and histories. The mission of the Museum of Northern British Columbia is to protect, explore and reflect the natural and cultural heritage of the Northwest Coast for the citizens of the Northwest Coast and their visitors, and to encourage the use of the Museum, its facilities and programs.
The Ruth Harvey Art Gallery
https://www.museumofnorthernbc.com/temporary-exhibits/art-exhibits/
The Ruth Harvey Art Gallery was created to provide an opportunity for local and regional artists to exhibit their works for the community and their guests, but also for the community to view artists’ works from other regions of the province. It also offers the Museum a temporary exhibit gallery, so that more of its collection can be shown and the many stories of Prince Rupert shared with the public.
The Art Gallery honours the lifetime contribution Ruth Harvey made to the arts in northern BC. She was not only an artist but a patron of the arts; she was a prolific painter in watercolours and oils, but also a teacher and an inspiration to aspiring artists. Perhaps most importantly she created a place for the arts in the minds and hearts of the people of Prince Rupert, and this remains an integral part of the community’s identity well into the 21st century
North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site
https://northpacificcannery.ca/
North Pacific Cannery’s history is unique and is comparable to few if any of the other canneries on the west coast of North America. North Pacific Canning Company was formed on November 28, 1888 by Angus Rutherford Johnston, John Alexander Carthew, and Alexander Gilmore McCandless. In 1889, the trustees received a crown grant for 183 acres of land at a cost of $32 and the plant was constructed. It had almost 90 years continuous salmon production and fish processing until ending in the late 1970s. The Site continued to operate, not as a cannery but as a maintenance and reduction facility for the fishing fleet in Prince Rupert until 1981, when it closed for fishing operations. The year 1985 saw a group of local historians band together and ultimately save the site from demolition, paving the way for the museum it is today.
The Port Edward Historical Society is a registered charity incorporated in 2000, with a purpose to preserve, restore, interpret and grow North Pacific Cannery as a living museum that illustrates the multicultural, isolated, industrial lifestyle of the West Coast fishery for the local community and the world to experience.Their mission is to preserve, exhibit and interpret the history of the salmon canning industry, celebrating its role in the economic and cultural development of British Columbia. They strive to protect, maintain, and grow North Pacific Cannery as an important tourist attraction and local community hub in the region, and provide a unique and engaging experience for local, national, and international visitors.
ARTISTS
Lynn Cociani
https://www.lynncociani.com/
After receiving her Diploma in Fine Arts from Okanagan College in 1985, Lynn took on various artistic occupations such as airbrush artist, sign painter and custom framer. After moving to Prince Rupert she pursued a full-time career in art. She has exhibited at Two Rivers Gallery in Prince George, Island Mountain Arts in Wells, the Smithers Art Gallery, the Terrace Art Gallery, and the Ruth Harvey Art Gallery at the Museum of Northern BC in Prince Rupert, where her work is held in the permanent collection. She is a member of The Fantastic 5point0 Artist Collective and has been on the board of the Prince Rupert Community Arts Council.
Lynn’s work involves themes of connection and meaning that we attach to the places we inhabit. Utilizing minimalist realism and experimenting with the contrast between light and dark, exposed and hidden, she communicates subtle truths about grand places. Lynn teaches art lessons and workshops while continuing to paint for exhibits and commissions.
Russell Mather / Mather Arts
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057039057153&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Mather Arts is rooted in Lax Kw'Alaams, B.C. and is focused on reviving culture, expressing life through art, and living the Ayaawkxs (Ts'msyen law). Russell Mather, president of Mather Arts, is of the Gispaxloats tribe. He has been studying traditional and abstract art forms since childhood and has been practicing it for over 10 years. Also, Mr.Mather has been running Youth Wilderness Camps for 10 years. Mather Arts is always looking to bring our process of Art and culture to those who are open to learning. One of the main goals is to continue to build a bridge between our elders and youth.
Debra Strand
https://www.indigomountainstudio.com/
Debra's journey as an artist has been a culmination of different aspects of her life. She began her career as a social worker, but constantly took classes in quilting and fabric dying, in Prince Rupert and Vancouver, for the challenge of learning something new. In high school she learned the basics of sewing, and began to make and design clothing for herself. Raising a family meant many years with an idle sewing machine, reading about quilting and dreaming of future projects.
Recently Debra began exploring art quilts, dedicating time to creation of originals ideas, as well as the creation of the quilt itself. The quilts began to evolve, playing with abstraction and representational styles, each one a new experiment in colour and technique. Debra's discovery of the Modern Quilting Movement has inspired her to design and create much larger pieces that are functional as well as beautiful. Hours spent kayaking British Columbia’s north coast and quietly absorbing its unparalleled beauty finds its way into many of her pieces.
Kelli Clifton
https://m.facebook.com/100063787050588/
Kelli Clifton is a renowned Ts’msyen artist who weaves the Sm’algya̱x language into her work. When she was 17 years old, she pursued her passion by enrolling in a bachelor of fine arts at the University of Victoria. After finishing her degree, she applied to the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art, hoping to build on, and improve her design skills. Two years there changed her life as an artist. Kelli credits her instructors at Freda Diesing School for giving her the knowledge and guidance which have made her the artist she is today. Another significant moment that changed the direction of her art was embarking down a path to learn Sm’algya̱x, the language traditionally spoken by the Ts’msyen people.
Mike Ambach / from the treehouse
https://mikeambach.com/
Mike Ambach is a photographer and graphic designer based in the upper left corner of Canada. Mike suspects everything is weird and beautiful. People, and the things they do, and the places they are part of. Mike's website is a portfolio site to showcase some of these.
For Mike's photography services, fine art printing, workshops, and more, click below:
https://www.fromthetreehouse.ca/#services
Kristen McKay
https://kkmckay.wixsite.com/kristen-mckay
https://instagram.com/mckay.kristen?igshid=NzAzN2Q1NTE=
Kristen McKay started on her artistic adventure first through musical arts as a youth, and more recently designing and painting First Nations Art, both contemporary and traditional. She has been inspired by the artworks of fellow Tsimshian artists Roy Henry Vickers, and David Boxley. The works of Tahltan artist Alano Edzerza, as well as Coast Salish/ Kwakwa’ka’wakw/Nuu Chah Nulth artist Bradley Dick, have also inspired her to think outside the normality of art. Over the past few years, Kristen has learned a variety of different art techniques and forms. From beading to painting, she discovered her passion for Northwest Coast art. She looks forward to sharing her art experience with urban children and youth and encouraging them to express themselves through art.
Lianna Spence
https://instagram.com/sacred_linez?igshid=NzAzN2Q1NTE=
Lianna Spence is a 38-year-old Tsimshian multi-disciplinary artist from Prince Rupert, in Northwestern British Columbia. She was raised by her great grandparents in the nearby Tsimshian community of Lax Kw'alaams, formerly known as Port Simpson, in a home that did not have any Indigenous art. With the help of a series of mentors, she soon began wood carving, making ceremonial masks, carving jewelry, painting ceremonial paddles, and tattooing. This kind of detailed work is like a form of meditation for her as she delves into each activity with determination and drive.
Rudy Kelly
https://www.rudykellywriter.com/rudykellywrites/page/2
Rudy Kelly is a Tsimshian Author, Playwright and Freelance Content Writer living in Prince Rupert, BC. The first indigenous graduate of the Mount Royal College Journalism Program in 1988, he has written 10 plays and his first novel, ALL NATIVE, was published in 20XX
Lucy Trimble
https://instagram.com/lou.maria.trimble?igshid=NzAzN2Q1NTE=
Lucy Trimble’s traditional Nisga'a name is Hlgu Maksguum Ganaaw; she comes from Wilps Axdii Wil Luugooda, The House that is Always Full, in the Nass Valley. She hails from the Frog clan and has maternal roots in Gingolx, BC. Trimble also works as an Indigenous Child and Youth Mental Health Clinician for coastal Ts'msyen communities and has been in the social service field for the past ten years. She holds an MSWI through the University of Victoria and is a student at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art. Her passions include breathing life into land-based Indigenous ways of healing and seasonal traditional food harvesting.
Roddy Tasaka
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/isao11
Roddy Tasaka is a graphic and visual designer focused on multimedia communications, brand design and digital graphic art.
Currently working within a communication team at the Prince Rupert Port Authority, Roddy is skilled in print media, digital design, art direction, illustration, iconography, large-format graphics, wayfinding signage, pattern design and motion graphics.
Chris Fraser / Strangest Little Drawing
https://www.strangestlittledrawing.com/
Chris's work is a celebration of the beauty of the natural world, infused with their experiences as a trans and non-binary individual. The colours, shapes, and patterns in their art reflect the diversity of the landscapes they encounter, as well as the complexities and nuances of their own identity.
Chris's creative process is rooted in observation and introspection, as they explore the ways that experiences and perspectives intersect with the world around them. They seek to create art that is inclusive and affirming, showcasing the beauty of all individuals and communities.
In Chris's murals, they use bold colours, dynamic lines, and fluid forms to evoke the fluidity and energy of the natural world. They aim to create works that are both aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking, encouraging viewers to consider their own relationship with the environment and the role that they play in shaping it.
Joan Mostad
https://joanmostad.artspan.com/
Visual artist Joan Mostad’s primary focus is striving to establish a distinctive artistic voice through experimentation, practice, work, and study. At Mostad’s downtown art studio she is always willing to share her latest work and mentor other artists in developing their skills. She has won many awards and has sold over 200 original paintings.
Nicole Best Rudderham
https://www.nicolebestrudderham.com/
Nicole, a life-long resident of the Pacific North Coast, paints rich colours, contrasts in light, shadow and colour in all her work. Her artwork captures the vivid greens, blue skies, and wildlife the North is noted for. She believes art should show the passion with which it was created.
Her search for new subject matter is ongoing focus, letting the image dictate which medium would suit it best. Initially learning painting and drawing from her mother as a child, she continually takes workshops from other accomplished artists. She has taught painting to all ages, through schools and private workshops, for over twenty years. After recieving honors and a bursary from high school she attended Arizona State University, taking Life Studies, design and classical dance. She has worked with fabrics creating home fashions, while also performing and teaching ballet and modern dance.
Suzo Hickey
https://www.suzohickey.com/
Suzo Hickey is a painter and multidisciplinary artist living in Prince Rupert, BC. She was raised in Rupert and has returned after 45 years in Kamloops and Vancouver. She graduated from Emily Carr College of Art and Design in 1994, and since that time she has exhibited around BC and the US on themes of queer mothering, relocation, and death in the family. Recently, Suzo’s work has been the urban landscape. After constructing many shows around issues, she began examining the formal, enigmatic power of what was around her.
Suzo’s studio is in the Museum of Northern BC building, in downtown Prince Rupert, and open to visitors.
Jeseka Hickey
https://instagram.com/paradoxofliving?igshid=NzAzN2Q1NTE=
A dilettante artist off the coast of Northern BC. #taxonomicrankdrawings: exploring the magic and beauty of wild living things.
https://www.lestercentre.ca/
As the heart of the arts in Prince Rupert, the Lester Centre can host any type of even, from theatrical performances to weddings; from convocations to town-hall meetings; from rock shows to conferences. The theatre seats 702 audience members, and the facility includes a large lobby, two concession stands, four changerooms, a green room, and a rehearsal room.
Ice House Gallery
https://www.icehousegallery.ca/
A Place for Art, Artists & Community. It is the Ice House's mission to provide a venue for B.C. North Coast Artists to share art, skills, information; and a place to market their work. The co-op is an equitable, sustainable and collaborative structure that benefits its members and patrons alike!
Visit our unique gallery in the Atlin Terminal along the Cow Bay waterfront in Prince Rupert, B.C.
Museum of Northern BC
https://www.museumofnorthernbc.com/
The magnificent Northwest Coast longhouse overlooking Prince Rupert Harbour is home to the Museum of Northern BC.
Internationally known for its exceptional collection and the quality of its exhibits, the Museum draws visitors from around the world
to experience its unique celebration of cultures and histories. The mission of the Museum of Northern British Columbia is to protect, explore and reflect the natural and cultural heritage of the Northwest Coast for the citizens of the Northwest Coast and their visitors, and to encourage the use of the Museum, its facilities and programs.
The Ruth Harvey Art Gallery
https://www.museumofnorthernbc.com/temporary-exhibits/art-exhibits/
The Ruth Harvey Art Gallery was created to provide an opportunity for local and regional artists to exhibit their works for the community and their guests, but also for the community to view artists’ works from other regions of the province. It also offers the Museum a temporary exhibit gallery, so that more of its collection can be shown and the many stories of Prince Rupert shared with the public.
The Art Gallery honours the lifetime contribution Ruth Harvey made to the arts in northern BC. She was not only an artist but a patron of the arts; she was a prolific painter in watercolours and oils, but also a teacher and an inspiration to aspiring artists. Perhaps most importantly she created a place for the arts in the minds and hearts of the people of Prince Rupert, and this remains an integral part of the community’s identity well into the 21st century
North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site
https://northpacificcannery.ca/
North Pacific Cannery’s history is unique and is comparable to few if any of the other canneries on the west coast of North America. North Pacific Canning Company was formed on November 28, 1888 by Angus Rutherford Johnston, John Alexander Carthew, and Alexander Gilmore McCandless. In 1889, the trustees received a crown grant for 183 acres of land at a cost of $32 and the plant was constructed. It had almost 90 years continuous salmon production and fish processing until ending in the late 1970s. The Site continued to operate, not as a cannery but as a maintenance and reduction facility for the fishing fleet in Prince Rupert until 1981, when it closed for fishing operations. The year 1985 saw a group of local historians band together and ultimately save the site from demolition, paving the way for the museum it is today.
The Port Edward Historical Society is a registered charity incorporated in 2000, with a purpose to preserve, restore, interpret and grow North Pacific Cannery as a living museum that illustrates the multicultural, isolated, industrial lifestyle of the West Coast fishery for the local community and the world to experience.Their mission is to preserve, exhibit and interpret the history of the salmon canning industry, celebrating its role in the economic and cultural development of British Columbia. They strive to protect, maintain, and grow North Pacific Cannery as an important tourist attraction and local community hub in the region, and provide a unique and engaging experience for local, national, and international visitors.
ARTISTS
Lynn Cociani
https://www.lynncociani.com/
After receiving her Diploma in Fine Arts from Okanagan College in 1985, Lynn took on various artistic occupations such as airbrush artist, sign painter and custom framer. After moving to Prince Rupert she pursued a full-time career in art. She has exhibited at Two Rivers Gallery in Prince George, Island Mountain Arts in Wells, the Smithers Art Gallery, the Terrace Art Gallery, and the Ruth Harvey Art Gallery at the Museum of Northern BC in Prince Rupert, where her work is held in the permanent collection. She is a member of The Fantastic 5point0 Artist Collective and has been on the board of the Prince Rupert Community Arts Council.
Lynn’s work involves themes of connection and meaning that we attach to the places we inhabit. Utilizing minimalist realism and experimenting with the contrast between light and dark, exposed and hidden, she communicates subtle truths about grand places. Lynn teaches art lessons and workshops while continuing to paint for exhibits and commissions.
Russell Mather / Mather Arts
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057039057153&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Mather Arts is rooted in Lax Kw'Alaams, B.C. and is focused on reviving culture, expressing life through art, and living the Ayaawkxs (Ts'msyen law). Russell Mather, president of Mather Arts, is of the Gispaxloats tribe. He has been studying traditional and abstract art forms since childhood and has been practicing it for over 10 years. Also, Mr.Mather has been running Youth Wilderness Camps for 10 years. Mather Arts is always looking to bring our process of Art and culture to those who are open to learning. One of the main goals is to continue to build a bridge between our elders and youth.
Debra Strand
https://www.indigomountainstudio.com/
Debra's journey as an artist has been a culmination of different aspects of her life. She began her career as a social worker, but constantly took classes in quilting and fabric dying, in Prince Rupert and Vancouver, for the challenge of learning something new. In high school she learned the basics of sewing, and began to make and design clothing for herself. Raising a family meant many years with an idle sewing machine, reading about quilting and dreaming of future projects.
Recently Debra began exploring art quilts, dedicating time to creation of originals ideas, as well as the creation of the quilt itself. The quilts began to evolve, playing with abstraction and representational styles, each one a new experiment in colour and technique. Debra's discovery of the Modern Quilting Movement has inspired her to design and create much larger pieces that are functional as well as beautiful. Hours spent kayaking British Columbia’s north coast and quietly absorbing its unparalleled beauty finds its way into many of her pieces.
Kelli Clifton
https://m.facebook.com/100063787050588/
Kelli Clifton is a renowned Ts’msyen artist who weaves the Sm’algya̱x language into her work. When she was 17 years old, she pursued her passion by enrolling in a bachelor of fine arts at the University of Victoria. After finishing her degree, she applied to the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art, hoping to build on, and improve her design skills. Two years there changed her life as an artist. Kelli credits her instructors at Freda Diesing School for giving her the knowledge and guidance which have made her the artist she is today. Another significant moment that changed the direction of her art was embarking down a path to learn Sm’algya̱x, the language traditionally spoken by the Ts’msyen people.
Mike Ambach / from the treehouse
https://mikeambach.com/
Mike Ambach is a photographer and graphic designer based in the upper left corner of Canada. Mike suspects everything is weird and beautiful. People, and the things they do, and the places they are part of. Mike's website is a portfolio site to showcase some of these.
For Mike's photography services, fine art printing, workshops, and more, click below:
https://www.fromthetreehouse.ca/#services
Kristen McKay
https://kkmckay.wixsite.com/kristen-mckay
https://instagram.com/mckay.kristen?igshid=NzAzN2Q1NTE=
Kristen McKay started on her artistic adventure first through musical arts as a youth, and more recently designing and painting First Nations Art, both contemporary and traditional. She has been inspired by the artworks of fellow Tsimshian artists Roy Henry Vickers, and David Boxley. The works of Tahltan artist Alano Edzerza, as well as Coast Salish/ Kwakwa’ka’wakw/Nuu Chah Nulth artist Bradley Dick, have also inspired her to think outside the normality of art. Over the past few years, Kristen has learned a variety of different art techniques and forms. From beading to painting, she discovered her passion for Northwest Coast art. She looks forward to sharing her art experience with urban children and youth and encouraging them to express themselves through art.
Lianna Spence
https://instagram.com/sacred_linez?igshid=NzAzN2Q1NTE=
Lianna Spence is a 38-year-old Tsimshian multi-disciplinary artist from Prince Rupert, in Northwestern British Columbia. She was raised by her great grandparents in the nearby Tsimshian community of Lax Kw'alaams, formerly known as Port Simpson, in a home that did not have any Indigenous art. With the help of a series of mentors, she soon began wood carving, making ceremonial masks, carving jewelry, painting ceremonial paddles, and tattooing. This kind of detailed work is like a form of meditation for her as she delves into each activity with determination and drive.
Rudy Kelly
https://www.rudykellywriter.com/rudykellywrites/page/2
Rudy Kelly is a Tsimshian Author, Playwright and Freelance Content Writer living in Prince Rupert, BC. The first indigenous graduate of the Mount Royal College Journalism Program in 1988, he has written 10 plays and his first novel, ALL NATIVE, was published in 20XX
Lucy Trimble
https://instagram.com/lou.maria.trimble?igshid=NzAzN2Q1NTE=
Lucy Trimble’s traditional Nisga'a name is Hlgu Maksguum Ganaaw; she comes from Wilps Axdii Wil Luugooda, The House that is Always Full, in the Nass Valley. She hails from the Frog clan and has maternal roots in Gingolx, BC. Trimble also works as an Indigenous Child and Youth Mental Health Clinician for coastal Ts'msyen communities and has been in the social service field for the past ten years. She holds an MSWI through the University of Victoria and is a student at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art. Her passions include breathing life into land-based Indigenous ways of healing and seasonal traditional food harvesting.
Roddy Tasaka
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/isao11
Roddy Tasaka is a graphic and visual designer focused on multimedia communications, brand design and digital graphic art.
Currently working within a communication team at the Prince Rupert Port Authority, Roddy is skilled in print media, digital design, art direction, illustration, iconography, large-format graphics, wayfinding signage, pattern design and motion graphics.
Chris Fraser / Strangest Little Drawing
https://www.strangestlittledrawing.com/
Chris's work is a celebration of the beauty of the natural world, infused with their experiences as a trans and non-binary individual. The colours, shapes, and patterns in their art reflect the diversity of the landscapes they encounter, as well as the complexities and nuances of their own identity.
Chris's creative process is rooted in observation and introspection, as they explore the ways that experiences and perspectives intersect with the world around them. They seek to create art that is inclusive and affirming, showcasing the beauty of all individuals and communities.
In Chris's murals, they use bold colours, dynamic lines, and fluid forms to evoke the fluidity and energy of the natural world. They aim to create works that are both aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking, encouraging viewers to consider their own relationship with the environment and the role that they play in shaping it.
Joan Mostad
https://joanmostad.artspan.com/
Visual artist Joan Mostad’s primary focus is striving to establish a distinctive artistic voice through experimentation, practice, work, and study. At Mostad’s downtown art studio she is always willing to share her latest work and mentor other artists in developing their skills. She has won many awards and has sold over 200 original paintings.
Nicole Best Rudderham
https://www.nicolebestrudderham.com/
Nicole, a life-long resident of the Pacific North Coast, paints rich colours, contrasts in light, shadow and colour in all her work. Her artwork captures the vivid greens, blue skies, and wildlife the North is noted for. She believes art should show the passion with which it was created.
Her search for new subject matter is ongoing focus, letting the image dictate which medium would suit it best. Initially learning painting and drawing from her mother as a child, she continually takes workshops from other accomplished artists. She has taught painting to all ages, through schools and private workshops, for over twenty years. After recieving honors and a bursary from high school she attended Arizona State University, taking Life Studies, design and classical dance. She has worked with fabrics creating home fashions, while also performing and teaching ballet and modern dance.
Suzo Hickey
https://www.suzohickey.com/
Suzo Hickey is a painter and multidisciplinary artist living in Prince Rupert, BC. She was raised in Rupert and has returned after 45 years in Kamloops and Vancouver. She graduated from Emily Carr College of Art and Design in 1994, and since that time she has exhibited around BC and the US on themes of queer mothering, relocation, and death in the family. Recently, Suzo’s work has been the urban landscape. After constructing many shows around issues, she began examining the formal, enigmatic power of what was around her.
Suzo’s studio is in the Museum of Northern BC building, in downtown Prince Rupert, and open to visitors.
Jeseka Hickey
https://instagram.com/paradoxofliving?igshid=NzAzN2Q1NTE=
A dilettante artist off the coast of Northern BC. #taxonomicrankdrawings: exploring the magic and beauty of wild living things.