Solstice, 2011, giclée ink on paper, edition 23/80. SFU Art Collection. Gift of the Salish Weave Collection of George and Christiane Smyth, 2022. Photo: Sydney Laiss
The composition of Solstice is anchored by the spindle whorl, a signature item in Coast Salish carving and design. A functional tool used for spinning fibers into yarn, the spindle whorl is comprised of a wooden disc mounted on a central stick. The carved motifs around its unmoving centre become a dynamic constellation. Many Coast Salish artists have drawn inspiration from the spindle whorl through the study of historic examples found in museum collections.
At the top of the image is a bird, either an eagle or a hawk, and at the bottom is a frog. In Coast Salish culture, frogs are regarded as the keeper of the seasons, with their melodic croaking signaling the beginning of a new seasonal cycle – an appropriate character for a work entitled Solstice.
Chris Paul (b. 1969, near Victoria, British Columbia) is a member of the T'sartlip First Nation on the western side of the Saanich Peninsula. In his youth, Paul apprenticed with Floyd Joseph (Squamish), Roy Henry Vickers (Tsimshian, Haida, Heiltsuk), and his uncle, Salish artist Charles Elliott. Paul completed a one-year intensive training at ‘Ksan, the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Art. Using contemporary methods and media, Paul continues to reflect on local flora and fauna near his home and explore his culture through his artistic practice. His work ranges from fine jewelry to sandblasted cedar panels, etched glass, acrylic painting, and serigraph prints. He entwines traditional style with his own contemporary interpretations of Coast Salish design. Paul is the father of emerging artists Sage, C̸OSINIYE, and Liam Paul.
Paul has created works for several institutions: Camosun College, Tillicum Mall, Gulf Islands Operation Centre, Victoria Conference Centre, and the Sidney Pier Hotel. His work has also been shown in exhibitions at the following galleries and institutions: the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, The Reach Gallery (Abbotsford), Nanaimo Art Gallery, Royal BC Museum (Victoria), Sidney Fine Art Show, and the University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries. His works can also be seen in film and television.