Indigeneity and Blackness intersect in jewellery, performance, and more, at Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art to September 8
Jewellery, film, dance regalia, and more as local artists explore their multifaceted heritage

Eagle Song in Action, by Willie Lewis. Photo by Aliya Boubard
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art presents The Sum of All to September 8
THE BILL REID GALLERY of Northwest Coast Art’s newest exhibit, The Sum of All, draws its title from the concept that Black comes from a mixture of diverse pigments.
And so concepts of Indigeneity and Blackness meet through not only visual art in this lively look at intersectionality. There is also film, dance regalia, jewellery, and poetry, all guest-curated by Damara Jacobs-Petersen, who traces her heritage to Squamish, Snuneymuxw, and African American roots. A big part of her museum work revolves around Indigenous youth engagement (as director of the Native Youth Program at UBC Museum of Anthropology) and this show crackles with young energy, too.
Like Jacobs-Petersen, the featured artists all represent multiple cultural groups. Fittingly, the exhibit aims to capture the spirit of Nch’ú7mut—the Squamish-language term for “interconnectivity and oneness”.
Check out the beaded, artfully culture-fusing earrings of Modeste “Monday” Zankpe (of Secwépemc, Es’ket + Ewe, and Togo ancestry), who is also a member of the Indigenous-burlesque troupe Virago Nation.
The exhibition also features the artwork of Amai Campbell-Kamangirira (Musqueam, Zimbabwean), Marion Jacobs (Squamish, Snuneymuxw, Bahamian), an actor-director-writer; Willie Lewis (of Squamish and African American ancestry), a cultural performer who is part of Spakwus Slolem (the Eagle Song Dancers); and Orene Askew, better known as DJ O Show (Squamish, African American).
Related Articles
Radix Theatre project helps put paint supplies in the hands of marginalized artists whose works will show on bus shelters and at November 4 art sale
Two live performance works explore language, sound, and the body
New exhibition and performance series opens with WTM / What’s the Move? art party featuring Lucy M. May, ĀNANDAM dance theatre, and more
Three-channel film exhibition asks what the Earth sounds like, drawing on Black environmentalism, resistance, and liberation
Specific design proposals expected in 2026; Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron’s original plan had been discarded in December
He’s made his name reimagining everyday objects, including reconstructing Nike Air Jordan sneakers to resemble Northwest Coast Indigenous masks
At award gala, Vancouver poet Fred Wah received Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence.
The 12,100-square-foot building features timber and glass, bridging art and the surrounding forest and opening with an inaugural exhibition called Edge Effects
Artist’s book and multimedia installation look at the evolution of the form through everything from Craigslist sales to the moon landing
In their exhibition Try Keeping an Open Channel, the Melbourne-based artist explores selfhood, mortality, and the monumental significance of the everyday
On until November 2, exhibition features historical works by the likes of Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg
Seasonal activities in the Village, from culinary adventures at top-tier restaurants to lush spa experiences, are perfect pairings
The locally based soundscape artist and his global collaborators have crafted an immersive experience at VIVO Media Arts Centre, with Formscape Arts, Vancouver New Music, and IM4 Media Lab
Australian artist’s video-based solo exhibition explores themes of death, disembodiment, and transness
With a Wetlands theme, the 23rd annual festival features an afternoon of artmaking, a labyrinth walk, a lantern procession, and much more
Chief Dr. Janice George brings knowledge as both curator and practitioner to works that reflect not only the deep past but also the emerging future of Indigenous weaving arts
Soundscape artist Yota Kobayashi draws on Japanese symbolism in co-presentation by Formscape Arts in partnership with Vancouver New Music and IM4 Media Lab
The show is the result of workshops held across the country
Parker Street Gallery exhibition features works by 10 artists, including co-curators Felicia Fraser and Emiko Mizukami
Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun Lets’lo:tseltun receives Award of Distinction, while Kari Morgan earns Emerging Artist award
Documentary screening at VIFF Centre uncovers a driven artist, and immerses viewer in an art scene that included Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring
From an indie garage-pop concert by Twin River to a plant pot–decorating workshop, here are just a few of the free offerings in store
Gathered Leaves: Discoveries from the Drawings Vault features works by Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso, Elisabetta Sirani, and more
Ancient and modern approaches mingle in the artist’s thought-provoking new show at Western Front
Multimedia artist Henry Tsang’s project allows Vancouverites to see how the city looked in 1907, when an act of anti-Asian violence occurred
Deep-Seated Histories exhibition features 150 seats from the museum’s permanent collection, while the show Future Makers displays new designs by KPU students
Liang Wang’s paintings and drawings capture beliefs and rituals that tie in closely to Vancouver’s Chinatown
Photo-based exhibition showcases the intersection of beauty and environmental crisis
Dana Claxton, Lyse Lemieux, and more artists are featured in the exhibition that pairs works from 1975–1985 with pieces from 2014–2024
An exhibit dedicated to Patkau Architects, a film about Arthur Erickson, and a jazz concert round out the celebration