Reuben Mack

EMERGING ARTIST SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT, 2019

Reuben is a Nuxalk artist based in British Columbia. For his Emerging Artist Scholarship, Reuben worked with a mentor artist to study advanced carving techniques. For his Scholarship artwork, Reuben carved a mask titled The Spirit of Thunder that is based on an ancient Nuxalk thunder mask currently housed in the Smithsonian’s collection.

Artist website: Instagram @rbmack3

 

 

 

 

Reuben Mack

Installation view of The Spirit of Thunder, 2020

Alder, acrylic paint, mirror, graphite, crushed rock, black shell

The Spirit of Thunder, 2020

Alder, acrylic paint, mirror, graphite, crushed rock, black shell Photography Credit: Matthew Wheelock

ARTIST STATEMENT

“Thunder is a supernatural being representing the four brothers who originally encountered Thunder. The red paint represents fire that scorched the brother who got too close to Thunder. The forehead articulates and moves up and down while making a clapping sound while dancing. The faces inside the ears represent fire beings, similar to fire birds.

When thunder opens his eyes you can see the flash of lights and the red triangles inside the face represent the mountains he danced on.”

– Reuben Mack

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YVR Art Foundation acknowledges that its offices are located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. The Foundation’s work and outreach spans the territories of many Nations throughout what is now known as British Columbia and the Yukon, and our programs exist for the purpose of supporting BC and Yukon First Nations artists with grants, awards, exhibitions and research opportunities. We honour with gratitude the Nations who have cared for the lands on which we work, reside and visit, and who have stewarded them since time immemorial.