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Artists

Alec ‘Tonto’ Peters

Alec "Tonoto" Peters is the Great Uncle of Jesse Recalma and Mathew Andreatta and a member the Musqueam Indian Band. Alec Peters' carving techniques were passed down to numerous artists in the Musqueam community, with his influential style still resonating today within the works of many Coast Salish artists in the Lower Mainland. He has proven to be a teacher to many.

Lux Recalma

Lux only had use of the left side of his body, despite this he was a commercial fisherman, artist and even had a registered patent. Lux carved unique lamps, designed leatherwork, and painted on canvas and suede. At one time, Lux worked at a small studio by the entrance of the Qualicum First Nation campground; however it is no longer there.

Lux is the Great Uncle of Jesse and Mathew.

Martha Recalma

Martha Recalma is Jessie and Mathew’s Great Grandmother.

Martha made sure to include many of her Grandchildren in her knitting practice and process, from hand-selecting the wool she would use, cleaning, carting, spinning and designing. She provided the Recalma family and many others with the products of her knitting including blankets, sweaters and jackets, many of which are still in regular use today by family members.

Gordon Reid

Gordon Reid is Jessie Recalma’s grandfather and one of his inspirations.

Carrie Reid

Carrie Reid is Jessie Recalma’s mother.

Jesse Recalma

Jessie Recalma is a Coast Salish artist and a member of Qualicum First Nation. Jessie grew up watching his grandfather create Indigenous works of art. His grandfather shared this knowledge and passed on the tools to Jessie which sparked his passion for carving. That knife that his grandfather gifted him would be the first of many carving tools that are now used to create a unique blend of contemporary and traditional Coast Salish style. While carving is one of Jessie’s favourite mediums to work with, he also devotes his time to painting, digital design, and Indigenous languages. Jessie currently works out of his home studio.

His works can be viewed on his Instagram page: instagram.com/saatlamarts

or his Facebook page: facebook.com/saatlamarts

Mathew Andreatta

Mathew Andreatta is a multi-disciplinary Coast Salish artist of Qualicum First Nation and Musqueam Indian Band with Italian ancestry as well. Mathew was born and raised in Langley, BC, and spent Summers with his family on Vancouver Island in Qualicum visiting his Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles and cousins.

His journey as an artist began in 2017, after having graduated from the University of British Columbia, with an active interest in the traditional and historical examples of visual language and expression, its techniques, and forms from his own and closely related First Nations artists. It wasn’t until 2019 after his first Tribal Canoe Journey when Mathew began taking his own practice more seriously as his need to express, connect, and understand more deeply his identity as an Indigenous person grew stronger and stronger.

 While Mathew didn’t undertake any formal mentorship or training, his passion for continuing to learn and grow his ability of visual storytelling as well as his own understanding of the practice is fuelled by constant research and study of historical and contemporary pieces of art as well as their contexts and significance. He is a learning artist whose forms are meant to connect with those of his ancestors while attempting to speak to the generations of Indigenous Artists to come in order to help ensure these traditional and ancestral ways of expression and understanding are carried on. 

Grace Edwards

Grace Edwards is a member of the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation. Grace’s career as an artist began in high school, with her first time using Coast Salish form line for two Truth and Reconciliation murals located at Dover Bay Secondary school. Grace Edwards is now a third-year student at Vancouver Island University majoring in Visual Arts, with a minor in Indigenous Studies. After graduation, she plans to continue her studies and become either a full-time artist or work in education.

Notable work of the artist is the most recent mural Uy’Snet located in Lantzville, B.C, and the self-portrait Masked Identity that placed third in the 14-18 age group for the Indigenous Arts and Stories contest that took place across Canada.

Grace Edwards uses her art to connect with her culture by illustrating stories of identity, spirituality, and the land. Grace is continually learning new styles and techniques and is looking for ways to use her artistic abilities to inform individuals of the Indigenous perspective, mainly through Indigenous women’s experiences in a colonial world.