EMERGING ARTIST SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT, 2024
My name is Kashka Clellamin, my Nuxalk name is “Ximximana”. This is an old name that I carry which translates to “The first light of day, or the first light from the creator”. I come from Bella Coola BC, and have grown up here almost my whole life. I am 17 years old, for 7 years now I have been committing my life to art. From the age of 11 I realized I wanted to become serious in learning our Nuxalk art, it always caught my eyes when I would see the art all around me growing up. I have stayed consistent over the years improving my work each time. I come from a strong line of artists and carvers in my family, so it truly has always felt natural from the start. Much of my early years doing art I was on my own until high school started and I got to learn all of the basics of Nuxalk art from my art teacher, and other mentors who helped me as well. I then began to grow a better understanding of it all and became ready to start creating my own pieces. It only went up from there. It is not an easy road and there are always challenges and personal struggles but it teaches me to never give up. It took many mistakes and learning obstacles but eventually I started selling my paintings. Over time I started to gain the confidence to enter local design contests, create tattoo designs, logo designs and take painting commissions. I’ve won 2 design contests in my community less than a year apart. This was a big highlight in my journey for myself, as the designs were then distributed out into the community on shirts and sweaters. The next big opportunity that came for me was the chance to hold and art show along with my sister. There were many factors in my journey which led me to where I am now. From putting in countless hours of work and challenging myself everyday, I am now making my biggest goal come true which is is going to Freda Diesing School Of Northwest Coast Art. I couldn’t be more grateful for all these experiences in my journey in art so far, it is just beginning.
