Land Acknowledgement
Digital Media
Sage Paul
Artist’s Description
In beautiful contemporary colours of deep purple, tan, turquoise and grey, I designed this image to be a collection of elements representing the movement and growth of our land.
The barn owl in the centre, spreading its wings wide, represents the life and death cycle, inescapable change that comes from being alive.
Under one wing, a stand of cedar trees; our economy. For without cedar our homes, our transportation, even our clothing wouldn’t exist. Shown in shadow colours, the times between day and night, cedar is grounding and sturdy, our protectors.
Under the other wing; salmon, leaping from the ocean, representing Tsartlip, the Salt Water people. First in this land, forever honouring the nourishment of the cycle of life.
Rising above in its royal purple colour is the camas flower. Its beauty is astounding when you come across a field of this intense purple carpet. Our people went to harvest this nourishing bulb, becoming cultivators of this land year after year.
And nestled beside is the strawberry and flower. Only available seasonally, this delicate flower blooms in June, indicating the ruby gold fruit to follow.
Like a treasure trail on the ground they hint of the taste explosion to come. As its shape dictates, the little hearts of the land bring us such fulfillment, they are small and powerful.
The Ambassador
Digital Media
Sage Paul
Artist’s Description
This print is meant to represent the body of Occupational Therapists. They are a community, a family, much like Rabbit. These two moss coloured hares blend peacefully into their olive green background, as in nature. I see their qualities of compassion and understanding being much like therapists. I bet they have to be quick and smart too!
Both are family (or humanity) oriented, playful, independent and strong, despite obstacles that might be in their way. One rabbit, positioned upside down, symbolizes the creative and innovative ways occupational therapists address their client’s goals.
Knowledge Keeper
Digital Media
Sage Paul
Artist’s Description
The colours in this print are more traditional with turquoise, red, and black.
The owl face is strong and wise like an elder, gathering knowledge to distribute to its pupils. This grey owl spreads its deep black wings in an embrace. Red huckleberries are dotted amongst the leaves in his wings. I wanted to represent these little berries as food, for thought. For a cultural teaching is: when you are learning something new, you retain the teachings better when it is coupled with a meal. I see learning as sharing, and what better way, than to eat together.
Current
Digital Media
Sage Paul
Artist’s Description
These two yin yang orcas, in their bright green sea, artistically represent the circular nature of time. Orcas travel great distances, staying together. I see them as storytellers of history. Their numbers and the strength of their pod is influenced by the changes in the ocean and their food supply.
I wanted to show their movement with a white feather, which is also their fin. You see a flash of white when an orca leaps from the sea, temporarily in flight. The white fin also represents the unusual white orca, Tl’uk, spotted last year. Tl’uk, meaning moon, shows that there are always certain events or moments that stand out in history.
Respect
Digital Media
Sage Paul
Artist’s Description
This image tells a story of strength, wisdom, and craft as well as the College’s journey towards cultural safety and humility. The leaping salmon, at the base, representing an instinct to return home, to be grounded. The ocean, river and shore are salmon’s habitat. The opportunistic herons, in their refined stoic poise form a paddle with their curving bodies. The paddle represents the cultural safety and humility journey, a way to return home.
In midnight colours of dark blue, aqua, and burgundy, these two beautiful herons, representing the College, stand in elegant silhouettes. On a simple white background for purity, this print signifies self resilience and determination. The two herons face away from each other, in humility stance. Between them, a paddle, taking mental and physical strength to wield.
About the Artist
Sage Paul is a Coast Salish artist whose work has been featured in the Mark Loria Gallery, UVic Legacy Galleries, the Vancouver International Airport, and the Victoria Art Gallery.
Born in 1995, in Tsartlip, B.C. she is soundly influenced by her father, renowned Coast Salish artist, Chris Paul. A solid foundation of Coast Salish style and structure came from him. Her art has also been influenced by family friend and fellow artist Mark Preston, where the love of drawing and the integrity in artwork was passed down to her.
She describes her art as animated, colourful, cute but realistic in the representations of nature, plants, and animals. Her rendition of vibrant traditional aspects of her Coast Salish art can be found in her prints, sandblasted glass and cedar sculptures, laser cut earrings and pendants, beading, moccasins, drum making and design.
She continues to live on her ancestral land, developing her skill as a dog handler to her two Australian cattle dogs, hiking, exploring, designing and running her own hair dressing salon: Sage Brush Hair.
