"Perpetuation" by lessLIE (Coast Salish)

""In the spirit of spindle whorls, this circular Coast Salish design depicts two spawning salmon in a red, perpetual circle. It is significant that I've begun this ARTiculation with the words, "In the spirit of spindle whorls," which I've begun many previous ARTiculations with. The reason for this is that the designs were created in the spirit of spindle whorls, and are not really spindle whorl designs, per se. As a contemporary Coast Salish artist concerned with perpetuating my artistic legacy with integrity, I believe it is vital to reflect my culture as it is today, not as it romantically "once was." This is partially out of the conviction that cultures change, and the art forms within those cultures need to reflect that cultural reality. As a contemporary Coast Salish artist, and with a bit of an iconoclastic spirit, I believe that spindle whorls are mostly obsolete, and reflect my culture as it romantically "once was." Since cultures change through acculturation and colonialism, I believe I need to reflect my culture as it is today. Hence some of the contemporary graphic influences in this work." --lessLIE Born in 1973 in Duncan, BC, lessLIE's "colonized, Catholic, Canadian name" is Leslie Robert Sam. His "decolonized artist's name" is lessLIE. Picasso once said that "art is a lie that tells the truth." lessLIE is living this perspective in the spirit of trickster traditions. lessLIE has a Bachelor of Arts degree in First Nations Studies from Malaspina University-College. While working on this undergraduate degree, lessLIE began to study Coast Salish art in 1995. lessLIE is currently working on a Master of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Coast Salish art at the University of Victoria."