Feature Artist of the Month

Meet Sydney Andres - Community Arts Council Feature Artist of the Month for June. Sydney’s artwork is on display at Pope Mountain Arts until June 30th.

I am an emerging Indigenous artist originally from Vanderhoof, BC and now reside in Fort St. James. In my paintings I explore my lived experience with domestic and wild animals through mark making, texture, and experimental palettes of local and non-local colours. The animals are often painted in ordinary yet unique movements as I see them in their environments. Growing up in a rural environment I have become close to both domestic and wild animals. Because of my familiarity, I am able to depict the forms as I remember them, through observation; though I also use my own reference photographs and recordings. I focus on the natural environments in a blurred fashion in relation to the animals, attempting to capture their unique personalities and to focus on the animal.

I have been experimenting with implementing Indigenous form line into my works. My art allows me to show my Indigenous heritage that is not noticed through my appearance. I have an Indigenous background from the Gitxsan community, and I grew up outside my community away from cultural teachings. To stay connected to my Indigenous background, I create art through form line and animals I have seen in my own journeys. I have always loved animals and it allows me to be grounded in my awareness of nature as they are part of my community. This allows me to experience, connect, and learn through nature, Indigenous ways of knowing and painting to interact with the world around me.

Rocky River Shore