Gerry Sheena

Coast Salish

Gerry is a West Coast Indigenous Carver living in Vancouver, BC. For three decades, he has been producing a variety of large and small scale wood carvings; exhibiting and selling my work in galleries across Canada and the US.

"I am passionate about community-engaged art projects, where I mentor youth in the art of carving, following cultural practices and sharing knowledge. Carving was almost a lost art because of historical events. I struggled to find teachers to help me build my skills, leaving me to study and teach myself. This has given me a great appreciation of the art and a strong desire to pass on my knowledge and skills to others. My passion is working in a community setting and mentoring youth. I feel it is important to teach so that we can preserve the cultural art for many generations to come.

I am deeply influenced by the struggles and success of our indigenous animals. I like to incorporate salmon into my work because man, animals and plants rely on them for sustenance. The pollution in our waters along with overfishing leaves me thinking and worrying about the future of the salmon. I honour the salmon by depicting them with west coast animals that is vital to our survival."

While growing up, Gerry spent hours watching his brother Roger Swaikum carving, and though he is mainly self-taught, Gerry has received some guidance from Henry McKay, and renowned Kwakwaka’wakw artist Stan Hunt III. Hunt in particular assisted Sheena in refining his detailing, which is reflected by the delicate and intentional finish of his current pieces. Gerry attended the Emily Carr School for two years and Langara Community College for one year where his studies were focused on Fine Arts.

Gerry’s work can be found throughout galleries in BC as well as the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, and nationwide in the US.