New Event!
Meet the Artists FRIDAY JUNE 21 | 10am-2pm
Sherry Leigh Williams and Sheena Gering are hosting a “Meet the Artist” drop-in event within the Lobby Gallery space to conduct walk-and-talks about the work and their Métis culture, engage and answer questions, and Sheena will be conducting a beading and felted tufting demonstration. Live jazz music by Wilf Davies, former band teacher for the Gulf Islands. Light refreshments. FREE.
ArtSpring Lobby Exhibition also open Saturday June 22 | 10am-2pm.
“Good Medicine”- “Miyo Maskihkî”
Sherry Leigh Williams Bio –
Sherry Leigh Williams is a talented and accomplished multi-disciplinary artist known for her exploration of her Indigenous roots and her advocacy for Indigenous issues. She has gained recognition as an award-winning artist with a self-taught background and has furthered her education by graduating from the Victoria College of Art in 2004 with a three-year diploma in fine art. With a strong dedication to her craft, Sherry went on to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Art and, most recently, graduated with Distinction from the University of Victoria in 2019.
Sherry’s artistic journey on Coast Salish territory began in 1998 when she first resided on Salt Spring Island with her two young daughters. During this time, she operated a small gallery next to the Tree House Café, where she showcased her artwork. The island and its people deeply inspired Sherry, fostering a connection that continues to ignite her creativity both artistically and musically. In 2019, Sherry returned to Salt Spring Island and currently owns and operates Raven’s Cache, situated at the base of Mount Maxwell.
Guided by intuition and spirituality, Sherry’s work is grounded in celebrating her family line, from which Louis Riel descends. “Being Métis is a walk between two worlds” Williams says. Drawing on her Indigenous and European backgrounds, Sherry often employs patchwork-style painting, adorned with tiny drops of paint resembling traditional beadwork, which she calls “painting in the Métis floral tradition.” She also incorporates sculptural elements using moose hair, hide, quills, and horsehair. Delicate embroideries and lace made by unnamed women are often placed beneath the paint, honoring their skill and contribution to the artistic tradition. Exploring the themes of diaspora and displacement experienced by Métis people as they migrated westward has become a central focus in Sherry’s artwork. Through her research, she has uncovered the deep-rooted displacement from the land in Manitoba and Edmonton, which motivates her to shed light on the challenges faced by Indigenous people and to raise awareness about their struggles.
Patricia Rose Williams bio:
Born on Treaty Six territory in Alberta, Patricia Williams now lives on the unceded territory of the LəkwB əŋən speaking people (Esquimalt and Songhees) on Vancouver Island. She integrates traditional Metis art materials with contemporary media, creating artifacts that examine and reflect her personal and cultural connection to the natural world.
Patricia’s early creative influences are grounded in familial ties. Her paternal grandmother generously provided her with art supplies from a very early age, including artist-grade oil and watercolour paints. Patricia’s childhood imagination was also captivated by the beautifully beaded Indigenous artifacts in her grandmother’s antique shop, and she credits her love of beauty and textiles to her mother. Her daughter and her sister are contemporary Metis artists that inspire her work.
Patricia is a clinical counselor and a registered art therapist. Her formal training also includes a Certificate in Visual Arts, and undergraduate courses in art history and studio process at the University of Alberta. In addition to working with textiles, beading and printmaking, Patricia finds that fused glass offers a direct and satisfying connection to working with light and capturing a sense of the sacred in the natural world. The blown glass sculptures of Dale Chihuly and Sheila Hicks’ brilliantly coloured, large scale textile sculptures inspire her current studio work. Creating with textiles provides a direct connection to Patricia’s Metis culture and identity.
On display Tuesday-Friday 10am-2pm, and before evening and weekend performances.
