Esquimalt Nation Meeting Room Silkscreen Prints

A set of five serigraph prints, a part of the Sacred Exhibition in City Hall, curated by Rose Spahan with the assistance of artist Eli Hirtle. From left to right:

1. Double Headed Serpent

   This design depicts a double headed serpent. The design was inspired by a Coast Salish carved comb which has inspired many artists. The movement of the positive and negative spaces evokes the movement of serpents.

2. Feeding Hummingbirds

   In the spirit of spindle whorls, this circular Coast Salish design depicts rufous hummingbirds feeding inside a red circle. Rufous hummingbirds are drawn to the color red.

3. Guardian Spirit Vision

   This design depicts a Coast Salish guardian spirit dancer with two birds above. Through visual punning, the mouths of the birds are also the eyebrows of the guardian spirit dancer. This visual punning symbolizes interconnectedness.

4. Thunderbird

   In the spirit of spindle whorls, this Coast Salish design depicts Thunderbird. In Coast Salish culture, Thunderbirds symbolize awe and respect for nature. In Western culture, which has appropriated the name "Thunderbird" for automobiles, cars bearing this name symbolize a lack of respect for nature and the environment.

5. Seeing the Center

   This design depicts abstract salmon heads with black eyes, seeing the center. Humans generally see the world from an anthropocentric view, while animals generally see the world from a centered perspective.