Alan Syliboy
Artist Summary
Alan Syliboy was born and raised in Truro, Nova Scotia. Living in the Millbrook First Nations community, he journeys through his life with a demeanor of strength. An established Mi’kmaq artist, Syliboy’s artistic vocabulary is inspired by the indigenous petroglyphs of Nova Scotia.
Full Biography
ARTIST CV, EXHIBITION HISTORY AND PEER RECOGNITION
Alan Syliboy
Education:
1971- Private Study with Artist Shirley Bear
1975- Nova Scotia College of Art and Design Halifax Nova Scotia
2017- Received Honorary Doctorate from St Francis Xavier University
Activities:
2019
Scotia Festival of Music – Performance with Susan Botti & Montreal Percussion Group Sydney Art Show March 31 Syliboy, Gould & Syliboy
Atlantic Book Awards and Festival St. John’s Newfoundland
First Nation Directors of Education National Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia – Panelist
American Library Association midwinter conference Seattle USA- Book Signing
2018
2018/2019 – Dalhousie University – design & production of Ceremonial Mace
2018-2020 – Indigenous Games – Drum image selected in Provinces successful bid application
Interview by Jeff Bear for his Series “13 Indigenous Artists” to be released January 2019
2017
Parrsboro Film Festival – entered Syliboy Films.
Buffy Sainte-Marie interview by Alan Syliboy Decoste Centre Pictou NS
Lunenburg School of the Arts – Joint Art Instructor with Todd Labrador – Making and Painting First Nation Hand Drum.
Sherbrooke Village Exhibit – First Indigenous Artist to make appearance.
Halifax Common Art Installation – Mi’kmaw Signpost
Reveal Indigenous Art Award Winnipeg – Received a $10,000.00 award
Received Honorary Doctorate from STfx University
2016
The Thundermaker” – written by Alan Syliboy has been shortlisted and is in contention to become the First Nation Communities Read – reading selection for 2016-2017.
2016 Coady Chair in Social Justice at StFX University
The Path We Share Exhibition – AGNS Halifax NS & Yarmouth NS.
2015
Aboriginal Children’s Hurt and Healing Initiative (ACHH).
Released Children’s Book “The Thundermaker” publisher Nimbus
2014-15 Thundermaker Multi-Media Exhibit – Touring 10 Nova Scotia Libraries
2014
Dorje Denma Ling – Instructor – Direct Perception
Correctional Service Canada – Exploring Culture through Art – 6 Institution Tour
Short Listed for the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Masterworks Arts Award
Selection committee for the New Brunswick Art Bank
2013
Galerie D’art Louise et Reuben-Cohen – Aboriginal Voices Exhibit
Beaverbrook Art Gallery- Open Thundermaker Exhibit
Mural Installation – Halifax Stanfield International Airport
Featured artist – Festival Des Arts Visuel en Atlantiq
June 26-30 Caraquet New Brunswick.
Instructor – Direct Perception Program, Dorje Denmaling
Lone Cloud Featured performance Shakespeare in Victoria Park – Mid-summers Night’s Dream
2013 Lone Cloud wins ECMA for Best Aboriginal Album
2012
Juror for Canada Council for the Arts – Ottawa
Elected to the Board of the East Coast Music
Awards
“Snapshot: East Coast Contemporary Aboriginal
Art”, Curator, Khyber Centre for the Arts & Wagmatcook
Cultural Centre.
Awarded Canada Council Project Grant for production
of “Little Thunder & The Stone Canoe” Exhibit
“Brain with Headdress”, 4’ x 4’, glass and metal
collaboration with Janice Lewis
Live Art & Lone Cloud performance on “The Candy
Show”
Launch “The Dream Canoe” Animation
2010
Shortlisted for the Lieutenant Governor’s Masterworks Art Award for People of the Dawn
Recipient of a Canada Council grant for his work in “Brainstorm” a collaboration with Nance Ackerman (NFB) and Dr. Ivar Mendez
Presented Queen Elizabeth II with portrait of Grand Chief Membertou
Quill Basket Mural, 10’ x 10’ sold to Lord Beaverbrook Art Gallery
“Ekpahak”, A survey of New Brunswick artists, Curator, Lord Beaverbrook Art Gallery
“People of The Dawn”, twelve 4’x8’ paintings, Commissioned Mural/2010 Olympics
Lead artist of a Group Sculpture, entitled “Keepers of the Eastern Door” for Vancouver 2010 Olympics
Collaborated with Nance Ackerman (NFB) and Paton Francis to create Animation, “Little Thunder” for Vancouver 2010 Olympics
Additional Career Highlights:
Atlantic Canadian Export Award from Atlanti CanadCultural Exports, for “Export success 2007”
Workshop, Introduction to Mi’k Maq Culture, Pequot Museum, Connecticut
Illustrated The Stone Canoe: Two Lost Mi’k Maq Tales, Gaspereau Press
The Perfect Tree, published by Nimbus, a short story written by Alan Syliboy
The Halifax 2014 Commonwealth Games Cultural Advisory Committee
Participated in Indian and Northern Affairs Art Acquisition Program
Art Demonstrations at Ludwig Beck Store, Munich, Germany
Featured in The Artists, Halifax, Mora Dianne O’Neill
Juror for Canada Council for the Arts
Featured Artist, Aboriginal Consultant, Drum!, CBC-TV
Featured in APTN, “Eastern Tide” TV series
Awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal
Producer, Songs from the Red Earth
Juror, National Aboriginal Achievements Foundation
Commissioned by the Town of Windsor to create a multi-panel mural
Parks Canada, use of images for Tourism brochure
Nations in A Circle, Aboriginal Arts & Cultural Festival
Juror, Canada Council for the Arts
Juror, National Aboriginal Achievements Foundation
Juror, New Brunswick Arts Council
Commissioned by Valley Elementary School, Truro,
Muiniskw, CBC animation special, artwork by Alan
NS, for a multi-panel piece to commemorate the Millennium
Exhibitions & Projects:
2018- Exhibit – The Daily Drum Series – Université du Québec à Chicouitim
2018 – Thundermaker performance – St. Andrews United Church Halifax NS
2018 – Thundermaker performance – Solar Festival Halifax Central Library
2018 – Thundermaker performance – Open Water Festival Halifax NS
2017 – DAREarts Project leader Atlantic Region
2017 – New Band “The Thundermakers performed at Stanfest July 1, 2017
2017 – FAVA Indigenous Art Exhibit – Caraquet NB
2017 – Halifax Common Sign Post Installation – My Common Woods Project
2017 – Thundermaker Exhibit Cape Breton University
2016 AGNS Exhibition Halifax & Yarmouth Branches– The Path We Share
2014 Vivid Art Show Halifax NS
2014 Solo Show Fraser Cultural Centre Tata. NS
2012 Lone Cloud CD Release Venue: The
Museum of Natural History Halifax NS
2011 4’ x 26’ Mural commissioned by Antigonish Regional Library
2010 Retrospective Exhibit, Klu’skap Art Gallery, Moncton, NB
2010 Art exhibited at the Red Cross Humanitarian Award Dinner
2010 Solo Exhibit at Argyle Fine Art
Commissioned to create a piece for the Canadian Canoe Museum, Peterborough, Ontario
Founding Member, Eastern Aboriginal Artists Collective
Commissioned for design of $200.00 22kt Gold Coin for Royal Canadian Mint
Commissioned for Mural by Sable Offshore Energy Inc.
Recipient of Nova Scotia Arts Council Grant
2006 A113 000 Moons, Solo Exhibition at the Marigold Cultural Centre, Truro, Nova Scotia
2003 Group Show, Puy-de-Dome, France
2002 Private Show, Pilar Shepard Gallery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
2001 Journeys, Group Show, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
2001 Solo Show, Houston North Gallery, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
2001 Homeboys, Joint show with Alex Janvier, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
2000 Hands of the Ancestors: An Assembly of Algonquin Artists, South Shore Art Center, Cohasset, Massachusetts
2000 “Indian Summer”, Royal Museum of Art & History, Brussels, Belgium
1999 At the Great Harbour, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
1999 Shifting Boundaries, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1998 Alan Syliboy and Nancy Ackerman, Journey, Multi-cultural Arts Resource Center, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1996 Solo Exhibition, Spectrum Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1995 Group Exhibition, Bay of Spirits Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1994 Solo Exhibition, Gallery Connection, Fredericton, New Brunswick
1993 Group Exhibition, Pel ATuKwey: Let me… tell a story, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1992 Exhibitor, Calgary International Arts Festival, Calgary, Alberta (1993-1996)
1992 Solo Exhibition, Family, Quest, Strength, Dartmouth Heritage Museum, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Collections:
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Town of Windsor, Nova Scotia
Innu Nation
Canadian Canoe Museum
National Aboriginal Achievements Foundation
Mashantucket Pequot Indian Nation
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Sable Offshore Energy Corporation
Bank of Montreal (featured on cheques)
Canada Post Corporation
Art Collection of the Dept. Of Indian and Northern Affairs
Owens Art Gallery
Nova Scotia Community College
Red Crane Studios – Alan Syliboy
P.O. Box 492
Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
B2N 5C7
Website: www.alansyliboy.ca
Artist’s Statement
“I see making art as a way of organizing chaos. Sometimes within the chaos of making a painting, a symbol in the shape of a moose or a caribou will walk through my consciousness in a form that resembles an ancient petroglyph. My work is inspired by the ancient petroglyphs which were carved in stone by my ancestors on walls in caves. This was their way to capture and respect the spirit of the subject. When I paint these images, I feel I am channeling a way to bring their spirits back into our consciousness. At one time, these drawings were predominant and lived within our culture. Today, most are no longer visible in their original environments, but I believe the earth has a memory of the spirits they contained. My work lives in the moment but is profoundly influenced by the past; this gives me my bearings as an artist, and as a human being. My ancestors have provided me with a spiritual global navigation system, and I like to believe that what I do helps to keep the spirits evolving.” Alan Syliboy