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Dionne Paul Iris Griffith Centre Welcoming Pole
In the spring of 2007, Sechelt Nation artist Dionne Paul carved a beautiful and original Coast Salish Welcoming Pole and woven sculpture to stand near the entrance of the Iris Griffith Centre. The seven-foot sculpture is in female form and stands in front of an eight-foot traditional floor loom warped with copper and copper wire.
Dionne's Welcoming pole was created as part of the six-month long Natural World: An Artists' Celebration, a partnership initiative of the Lagoon Society and the Sunshine Coast Arts Council, generously funded by 2010 ArtsNow, Spirit of BC Arts Fund, McLean Foundation, Sunshine Coast Community Foundation, and the Aboriginal Arts Development Award.
Dionne spent the month of April 2007 as artist in residence at the Iris Griffith Centre. During that time she worked on her sculpture and also provided weaving classes for children and adults to enhance community engagement, while teaching about traditional art forms and the importance of forests to First Nations peoples. On May 6, 2007, community members gathered at the Iris Griffith Centre to enjoy a very special blessing ceremony in honour the pole raising.
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Well-respected within her community, Dionne serves as the Sechelt Nation Cultural Coordinator and is at the forefront of efforts to maintain, strengthen and revitalize traditional aboriginal cultural practices, values and art forms in the context of contemporary society. Dionne is a member of a Salish weaving guild where she is learning traditional Coast Salish techniques of weaving. In addition, she has had the exceptional opportunity to work with Lawrence Paul (Yuxweluptun) as an apprentice and studio assistant to a master First Nations painter and internationally recognized artist. Dionne graduated with a BFA from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in 2005 and now serves as the Sechelt Nation Cultural Coordinator.
