[Bcma-l] One Moon Gallery Ceremony

[bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca]

**
*For Immediate Release – Feb 2007*
*Esquimalt, Vancouver Island BC *
*Contact: Mark Granfar 1 800 519 1222*
*Mobile 744 7272*

*mark@mgvinc.com* <mailto:mark@mgvinc.com>* *


Totem Pole Raising Ceremony to commemorate the opening of the
One Moon Gallery
To honor artist Darlene Gait**

The Esquimalt Nation honors Darlene Gait , one of its members on 
Saturday February 17between 2 pm and

4 pm with a Totem Pole Raising Ceremony to commemorate the opening of 
the One Moon Gallery to showcase her paintings and art. The Gallery is 
located at 1192 Kosapsum Crecent directly across the new buildings of 
the Band Council and the Long House on the Esquimalt Reserve.

The ceremonies will include a presentation by Lou Charlie, an elder 
representing the Band, a Native Dance group from Esquimalt, as well as 
the presence of Chief Andy Thomas as well as Coast Salish artist Doug La 
Fortune who carved the pole, and other members of the Esquimalt Nation 
and community at large.

The pole is a gift from George Thomas to his sister Anna Marie Gait, 
both of whom are elders of the Esquimalt Nation. The pole was originally 
carved and presented in honor of Rob Thomas and Joe Thomas who were the 
best friends of Doug La Fortune. It represents an eagle and a dragon 
which remembers the spirit of those being honored.The pole will be 
placed in front of the One Moon Gallery and dedicated to all the people 
of the Esquimalt Nation.

Darlene Gait is an accomplished First Nation artist who began painting 
as a child. Darlene's paintings and poetry celebrate her love for her 
Coast Salish culture and her images bring to life the rich traditions 
and oral history of the First People of the north west. Her art also 
reflects her passion for protecting the environment and wildlife, as 
well as her Baha'i beliefs in the oneness of humanity and the beauty of 
its diversity. Her work is unique in that it is created with emotions 
that allow the viewer to connect and relate to the stories told through 
her brush.

Darlene is recognized internationally, her art is exhibited and held in 
private and public collections worldwide. Her art has been featured on 
the cover of national publications in the United States and her images 
are published by Rizvan Fine Arts, Island Art as well as Orca 
Publishing. Darlene has completed many commissions as a book illustrator 
of Native stories for children,including the best seller 'The Secret of 
the Dance' written by Andrea Spalding and Judge Alfred Scow, which takes 
readers back to a time when the Potlatch was once banned in Canada.

Darlene's paintings are often inspired by her vivid dreams.She believes 
her dreams must be captured by her brush and poetry and then shared. 
Darlene feels bound by the responsibility to depict all her images with 
scientific and historical accuracy, as she considers her art to be part 
of the oral history of her culture. She is self taught and has studied 
commercial illustration, graphic design and multimedia.

Darlene Gait has received many awards including The Book Illustrator of 
the Year Award, Verse and Vision Peoples Choice Award, and The 
Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Award, to name a few. Her exhibitions 
have received wide press and television coverage. Darlene is an invited 
member of the Worldwide Nature Artists Group (WNAG) , the world's 
foremost international organization of nature artists, dedicated to the 
celebration and preservation of our natural heritage, and includes such 
prominent artists as Robert Bateman , John Banovich, Gamini Ratnavira, 
and David Shepherd .

Darlene Gait lives in Vancouver Island, with her family. She supports 
many non-profit organizations through volunteering and through her 
donations of art. She is an active member of the of Art for Development 
Foundation as well as Partners For Prosperity. ¨

For more information on her art see www.darlenegait.com 
<http://www.darlenegait.com/>