Working as a sociologist and a labour market analyst for over two decades in Vancouver, Marylee Stephenson has seen too many Aboriginal people struggling to make a living, even though many possessed immense talent as carvers, painters and artists.
Each day on the walk to her Commercial Drive office, she witnessed the same jarring contrast between an artist’s often awe-inspiring creation and their extreme day-to-day living conditions.
Today she has re-connected with Aboriginal artists from Vancouver’s Commercial Drive and Downtown Eastside to create a website, www.
indianartfromtheedge.com, through which local artists can earn a living. The website offers a potential revenue stream that taps into a vast Internet-based audience rather than just a far-smaller number of local customers who pass by on the street.
“Each day I would see these striking and innovative creations being made by artists who were having health problems, often quite alone, and some of whom are even homeless,” said Stephenson who funded the website from her own pocket.
“And yet through it all they continued to create their art. They are true artists and no matter what else was going on in their lives, their creation of beautiful and valuable pieces never stopped.”
Stephenson chose the provocative name ‘Indian Art From The Edge’, because many of the artists now, or in the past, have lived at the very margins of society, including on the streets.
She also chose to build a site and make direct connections with local artists to ensure they received their fair share.
No more masterpieces for a coffee.
Viewers on the site can not only see artworks divided across different categories like Birds, Insects, Oceans & Rivers and more, but they can also read the artist profile of each person behind the work.
The site removes the anonymity of many art websites that promote ‘Aboriginal art’ but in reality sell items made offshore in China or other countries.
Every item on the site is a one-and-only, original piece – carvings or paintings -- guaranteed to be made by a BC-based artist. Though some of the artists’ have come to the city from as far away as the Yukon, or Eastern Canada and they are from many First Nations backgrounds, all are making their way through life in Vancouver.
With pieces starting at $75 and up, Stephenson’s website also ensures a fair price to purchasers.
The digital age has made this all do-able – making social change possible one art-piece at a time.
To view artworks go to www.indianartfromtheedge.com.
It is also Facebook and Twitter (@IndianArtEdge).
Add new comment