The following is the text of a news release from BC Ferries:
(VICTORIA, British Columbia) — BC Ferries, the First Peoples’ Cultural Council and Esquimalt Nation revealed Tuesday the first of three Coast Salish artistic designs for BC Ferries’ new Salish-class vessels. Esquimalt Nation’s Darlene Gait designed the artwork that will adorn Salish Orca. The artwork will also be displayed inside the vessel for customers to view and additional exposure for the artist.
Last August, the First Peoples’ Cultural Council issued a call for artists and Coast Salish artists were invited to submit their portfolios for consideration. From 37 expressions of interest, a jury of artist peers and BC Ferries representatives identified a shortlist of nine artists who were invited to submit specific design concepts for the three Salish-class vessels. The jury reviewed the design concepts with attention to artistic excellence, Coast Salish artistic style, ability to express the vessel names through artwork, ability to provide digital images for fabrication and ability to meet the project time line.
In January, BC Ferries and the First Peoples’ Cultural Council announced the selection of three Coast Salish artists to create designs for the new Salish-class vessels; Darlene Gait from Esquimalt Nation for Salish Orca, John Marston from Stz'uminus for Salish Eagle and Thomas Cannell from Musqueam for Salish Raven. The vessels are named to recognize the Coast Salish as the original mariners of the Salish Sea. The two other artistic designs will be shared publicly over the coming months.
The Salish-class ferries are currently under construction at Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland. Salish Orca will be the first ship to arrive in 2016 and will sail on the Comox-Powell River route. Salish Eagle will arrive in late 2016 and Salish Raven will arrive in 2017, and both of these ships will sail in the Southern Gulf Islands.
Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service provider responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British Columbia.
