Reflection - Kelly Cannell - 2023 📍 burnaby

Statement by the artist: "A butterfly with traditional ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) elements drinks graciously from a dewdrop resting in the tall, damp morning cat-tail grasses. My inspiration comes from the beautiful surroundings of Burnaby’s popular parks today, which I often visit with my children.

I aim to convey nature’s beauty into the urban space to complement the featured rain gardens and showcase them for what they are- a more responsible way to coexist with the land. Three more water droplets in the rain garden are frozen at the moment when they re-connect with the earth, creating mini shockwaves and initiating dancing ripples in the water. The journey to the sky and back again is complete, and they wait again to return to the sky.
Mirror-polished stainless steel reflects the viewer within a dancing halo of radiating blue ripples, demonstrating the power of one raindrop when collected with another. What is an ocean but infinite drops of water? This installation is a chance to reflect on the history of the surrounding lands while being reflected by the dewdrop and reflective grasses.
This shared connection of themselves looking up at the larger-than-life butterfly high above will humble the viewer and hopefully will carry an awareness of the existence of all life who’ve lived and will live off these lands and waterways of Burnaby." Kelly Cannell is an indigenous Coast Salish artist from the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nation in Vancouver B.C. known for her unique and captivating artwork, with a deep connection to her culture and environment.

Kelly’s work often explores themes of the natural world. Through her use of vibrant colors and intricate details, she creates visually stunning pieces that evoke a sense of wonder and reflection. Kelly’s art has been exhibited in numerous galleries and has garnered recognition for its powerful storytelling and artistic expression.

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