Alan Syliboy (born 8 September 1952) is a Mi'kmaw artist, author, and musician from Millbrook First Nation in Nova Scotia, Canada.[1] Syliboy began working in various artistic mediums beginning the 1970s, including painting, mixed media, illustration and video.[2] He has also published books and created films and music.[3][1] His work is influenced by Mi’kmaw petroglyphs, particularly those located in Kejimkujik National Park, as well as quillwork and Mi'kmaw traditional oral stories.[4] His work has been exhibited a numerous galleries across Canada and the world.[5] A proponent of making art accessible, particularly within his own community, Syliboy designed T-shirts and paints drums.[5] Syliboy also creates murals, with his work featured in the main terminal at Halifax Stanfield airport. Syliboy presented his portrait of Grand Chief Membertou to Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Halifax in 2010. The portrait is on permanent display at Government House in Halifax. Syliboy received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.[1] Sylliboy continues to live in Millbrook First Nation and his studio is based in Truro.[6]
Early life
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Syliboy born 8 September 1952 in Millbrook First Nation near Truro, Nova Scotia. He often went from Millbrook to Truo with his grandmother to sell baskets. Syliboy began drawing as a child and cites his grandparents as an early influence, encouraging him to become an artist.[4][1] Syliboy left school in grade nine and was working at his uncle's cabinet shop. He met and was mentored by Wolastoqiyik artist Shirley Bear in the 1970s when she came to Millbrook to host workshops and recruit artists. He credits the project with giving him his first paint set and he studied with her privately in 1972.[5][6] Although he was interested in pursing art, it took a him a few years to find his path, later taking up studies at the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design.[3]
Career
editSyliboy's art, a butterfly design, was featured on a two-hundred dollar gold coin minted by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1999 as part of a series entitled Celebrating Canadian Native Cultures and Traditions.[7][8] Syliboy received the Queen's Jubilee Medal in 2002.[1]
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A mural featuring a butterfly, entitled 3D Butterfly, was installed in the main lobby of the Halifax Stanfield International Airport in 2013.[9] The work was created through a partnership between the airport and the province of Nova Scotia and painted over three days in August 9–11, 2013.[10] The event as a feature event and live-streamed over Twitter and Facebook.[9] Syliboy stated the butterfly was chosen as the subject because people are always coming and going at airports, and they can be very emotional places.[11] Further, the mural "depicts a butterfly/man and is done with the double curve motif which symbolizes life. The butterfly represents the freedom of the soul to wander and it flies in the ray of Grandfather Sun, the giver of life."[10] Filmmaker Nance Ackerman captured the process and the painting became central to her short film Carry Me Home. The film features music by Jamie Alcorn and performed by Lone Cloud, Syliboy's band.[12] The mural, painted on canvas, toured Nova Scotia in 2015 and was exhibited at St. Francis Xavier University, and Creamery Square, Tatamagouche. The mural has been cited a main attraction of the airport.[13]
Syliboy has had his work exhibited across Canada and his work was featured in a major retrospective at the Dalhousie University Art Gallery in 2024.[1][2]
Syliboy was selected as the winner of the 2024 Portia White Prize, a prize that recognizes the artistic "significant" contribution of a Nova Scotian artist to the province.[14][15]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Boyko, John (November 23, 2023). "Alan Syliboy". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada.
- ^ a b Edmonds, Pamela (April 30, 2024). "Alan Syliboy: The Journey So Far". Dalhousie Art Gallery.
- ^ a b Canada, National Film Board of. "NFB Films directed by Alan Syliboy". National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ a b Moore, Angela (May 17, 2024). "Half century work from Mi'kmaw artist Alan Syliboy on display in Halifax". APTN National News. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Nova Scotia Artist is Standing Tall | Government of Nova Scotia News Releases". news.novascotia.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ a b "Alan Syliboy | Redcrane Studios - Millbrook, Nova Scotia". alansyliboy.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ Jesse (2020-12-23). "OTD: Royal proclamation specifies design of 1999 Butterfly coin". Canadian Coin News. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "Mi'kmaq Achievements". Cape Breton University. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ a b "3D Butterfly". Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ a b "Light load: Airport art goes live". Inside Logisitics. 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Canadian Press (December 1, 2015). "Butterfly mural returns to Halifax airport after Nova Scotia tour". Toronto Sun. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ RobertDevet (2017-02-18). "Weekend video: Carry me home". Nova Scotia Advocate. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "How to survive 10 of Canada's busiest airports this holiday season". CTVNews. 2016-12-22. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "Alan Syliboy wins 2024 Portia White Prize | Arts Nova Scotia". artsns.ca. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "2024 Creative Nova Scotia Awards | Government of Nova Scotia News Releases". news.novascotia.ca. Retrieved 2024-11-05.