New Print Release and Signing

A beautiful new print created by our own Cheryl Wadhams will be launched Saturday, August 7, 2021 from 2 to 3 pm at the Fazakas Gallery pop-up shop at 850 Granville Street.

“A journey that started with a promise made to my late Anis (aunty) Emma, to learn Kwak’wala, the traditional language of my people, the Kwakwaka’wakw. My language journey started late in life. In 2016, I enrolled in the UBC Endangered Language program. I have progressed slowly to learn beyond my first words, Yo, ‘wiksas and dagans dlu t’sigwanu (‘Hi’, ‘How are you?’ and ‘Socks & eggs’). In 2017, the other part of this journey included producing many original works that had me “going back to the basics”, exploring and studying traditional formline design concentrating on the ‘ovoid’. I am blessed and happy to announce this is my first print produced. It has been an exciting process that will help me expand my knowledge, abilities and scope of the art of my people. Gilakas’la to my language teachers who have supported my learning along the way: Emma, Patricia, Rita, Hemasaelouth, Bruce and my tlawanam, Joe. This piece expresses that journey.”—‘Ka’kaSolas, Cheryl Wadhams 

My traditional and everyday name is ‘Ka’kaSolas and my given name is Cheryl Wadhams. I am a member of the ‘Namgis Nation but traditionally belong to the Ma’amtagila tribe through my gagamp, grandfather and I am connected to the Mamalilikulla tribe through my Ada dlu abas, grandmother and Mom. I have been creating art since my youth. I watched and learned to carve and design from my late uncles Lloyd Wadhams, Don Dawson and Dennis Matilpi. I admire the works of renowned Kwakwaka’wakw artists like Mungo Martin, Willie Seaweed and Ellen Neel. There are of course many others; too many to mention that I admire and that have influenced my carving, line drawing and making of traditional regalia like dance robes, aprons and cedar bark head pieces. As a wife, and mother of two sons, we are all very honoured and privileged to be connected to our potlatch system where we each hold traditional names, dances and positions. It is a lifetime of learning that I humbly respect and have chosen to carry the torch forward for my family and Nation.