Invisible Fish
Primarily showcasing works from Salish artists early in their careers, this exhibition borrows its title from a Joy Harjo poem that speaks to the spirit of this group show—familial and community connections centered around waterways.
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Reflecting on where the Gallery is situated in Bear Creek Park on Coast Salish territory, Invisible Fish encouraged visitors to think of their own relationship to the creeks, rivers, and sea that flow through and around this land. From Roxanne Charles’s installation ŚЌE,ЌÁL / Microphone created with community at Semiahmoo, to Susan Point’s print The River Woven by Time referencing Salish weaving patterns, this exhibition also drew from the Gallery’s permanent collection.
Incorporated into the exhibition were tactile ways of experiencing art, including a two and a half-metre touchable block print, a friendly reading nook for all ages, and an invitation for visitors to share experiences in relation to water on a communal 'river' at the Gallery's entrance.
There were three events in connection to Invisible Fish, including: weʔ ʔayəm kws niʔct ʔiməx Plant Walk with šxwne:m Deanna Miller on Saturday, July 22 from 10-11:30am; Plant Knowledge & Medicine Making Workshop with Deanna Miller on Saturday, August 12 from 1-4pm; and the virtual event Soba’s Corner: A Chinese-Canadian Cooking Show with exhibiting artist Snack Witch aka Joni Cheung on Tuesday, August 29 from 5-6pm.
Artists: Simranpreet Anand, Roxanne Charles, Joni Cheung, Paige Pettibon, Atheana Picha, Susan Point, Pudlo Pudlat, Manuel Axel Strain, and Leslie Wells.
Curator: Alanna Edwards
Origin of Exhibition: Surrey Art Gallery
Community Partner: Surrey Muse
Note: As part of Manuel Axel Strain’s installation Threshold, there was a scent diffuser within the exhibition Invisible Fish Tuesdays through Fridays from 9am-4:30pm, as well as during the summer opening event on Saturday, July 8. Scent free days were Saturdays and Mondays. The diffuser coverage was 500 sq ft.
The scents included were patchouli, lavender, bergamot, sage, mint, palo santo, willow bark, diamond willow fungus, devil’s club, and juniper.
Atheana Picha with her Work
"Invisible Fish" exhibiting artist Atheana Picha traces her carved lines on the woodblock "Two Sturgeons," 2022.
Visiting with "Invisible Fish"
Connected to the invitation for visitors to share experiences related to water on the communal 'river' at the Gallery's entrance, the kitchen table in the centre of the exhibition was an opportunity to rest, chat, draw and write, and to reflect.
Visitor Reflections
On the communal 'river,' visitors of all ages added their reflections on 'bubbles' by writing and drawing.
Soba's Corner Workshop with Joni Cheung
Exhibiting artist Joni Cheung and their co-facilitator Cassie Paine hosted an online dumping making workshop with participants joining in from their home kitchens.
weʔ ʔayəm kʷs niʔct ʔiməx Plant Walk with Deanna Miller
šxʷne:m Deanna Miller led participants through two workshops including a plant walk through Bear Creek Park where the Gallery is located.
Permanent Collection Works
"Invisible Fish" also drew on the Gallery's permanent collection, including Susan Point's serigraph print "The River: Woven by Time," 2022, and Pudlo Pudlat's drawing "Untitled (Landscape with Two Aeroplanes and Boat)," 1978.
A Visit with Paige
Exhibiting artist Paige Pettibon is featured in a soon to be released video on our YouTube page about her painting "Water & Womb," 2023.