World famous visual artists Francisco Gazitúa and Angela Leible will travel from Santiago, Chile, in South America to attend the Samson Cree Nation Pow Wow Celebration Aug. 9 to 11.
This husband and wife team has exhibited in major galleries and museums in Chile, Canada, England, Germany, the United States and Mexico and their art works are part of museum collections throughout the world.
Gazitúa specializes in large scale sculptures made of steel, stone or wood. These artworks are displayed in front of large office towers and public areas. Recently he began a series of works based on feathers. Gazitúa said they carry many layers of meaning. The spiritual symbolism of the eagle feather in South American culture and that of First Nations in North America is similar. He believes indigenous ancestral roots and traditions bind us as members of a common family. The eagle feather is his connection between North and South.
Leible is a South American visual artist who has exhibited throughout the world and is collected by major museums. She is well known for her very large paintings exploring a number of themes pertaining to indigenous culture. A large scale painting of an eagle by Leible will be donated to a Canadian Museum of Civilization in the name of the Samson Cree Nation. In addition, a smaller scale edition of the painting will be received by Chief Marvin Yellowbird on behalf of the Samson Nation.
Leible was inspired by an event in her homeland involving the sacred condor. She cites that an indigenous prophesy states: “When the eagle of North America and the condor of South America unite, the spirit of peace and good will awaken in the Earth. After having waited for millennia, many indigenous people believe that this is the time.”
“We are truly blessed and honoured that Francisco, Angela and their family would travel all the way from South America to attend our powwow celebration,” said Holly Johnson Rattlesnake, chair of the Samson powwow. “It is a great coming together of indigenous cultures from each continent.”
Presentations will be made at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9.
— Submitted