Susan Point, RCA

Coast Salish

Susan Point was born in 1952 in the Musqueam First Nation, near Vancouver, BC.

She began her art career in 1981 and chose to concentrate on the designs and forms of her own people. One of the forms that intrigued her was the Spindle Whorl, a wooden disk which was used in the spinning of wool. Using silkscreen prints, Point began experimenting with traditional two-dimensional designs. Her first print was "Salmon". This design is of four salmon in a circular format, recalling the spindle whorls Susan had studied during this period, revealing a mastery of the traditional Coast Salish style.

During the next ten years, Susan worked to define her interpretation of traditional art forms. In 1983, Susan began blending colors, prompting some critics to reject her color schemes as nontraditional. Her creative drive prevailed, and soon she was exploring other techniques, such as foil embossing, paper casting, linocut printing and lithography.

In the 1990's, Susan began using materials such as glass, bronze, wood, concrete, steel, and cast iron. Due to her willingness to explore new mediums and work on a large scale, Point has been awarded numerous public art commissions, including building facades and large sculptures. Her large-scale works welcome visitors at the Vancouver International Airport as well as public buildings and corporate developments on both sides of the Canada/U.S. borders, paying tribute to the First Peoples of these countries and reminding us of these areas rich in cultural history.