Portrait of an Artist: Gerry Sheena

Written by Tamara Frankel

Photography by Alan Katowitz

I walked into a little jewel in the heart of our city, a Vancouver boutique hotel on Pender Street. Skwachàys Lodge, located at the crossroads of Vancouver’s historic Gastown, Chinatown and Railtown districts, is where I met Gerry Sheena, artist in residence in this unique hotel, whose stunning Eagle Spirit Mask adorns the cover of this Senior Line.

Gerry Sheena was born in Merritt, BC, and is a member of the Interior Salish Nation. He credits his older brother as a major influence in his carving career. While Gerry is of Salish descent, he has carved a variety of styles for over three decades. His carvings include masks, bowls, rattles, plaques and various sizes of totem poles. They can be found in galleries throughout BC, as well as at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.

Gerry’s affection for youth is reflected in his mentoring youth project at Collingwood Neighborhood House where the focus is on the creation of public art. In 1999 he mentored youth in secondary schools in Long Island, NY with a 10-foot totem pole carving project.

Gerry’s home over the past two years has been Skwachàys Lodge. Skwachàys is the Salishan place name for the spring waters that once covered that area as marshes and sloughs. These waters are a portal into the spirit realm and are sacred.

This unique lodge, the only one of its kind in Canada, is a life-changing housing program for participating Indigenous artists, actors and musicians. It includes subsidized housing in clean unfurnished bachelor suites, 24/7 access to a shared artist workshop, and programming opportunities for personal and professional development that help artists develop their craft and move into the next phase of their careers.

Skwachàys Lodge opened 5 years ago with 18 guest rooms and offers an authentic Indigenous experience, while providing the highest quality personalized service. A delightful little café opened 5 months ago and offers delicious meals in a charming atmosphere.

The main attraction, however, is the Urban Aboriginal Fair Trade Gallery, that showcases Aboriginal artists from across Canada. Most are based in Vancouver, and many are participants in the Skwachàys “Artist in Residence” program. The Gallery features a gift shop, where guests can purchase souvenirs and one of a kind art pieces. Items include jewelry, hats, art cards, clothing, rattles and bentwood boxes.

The Eagle

In his carving, Gerry Sheena frequently uses the Native Eagle symbol known as “The Master of the Skies”. The Eagle is believed to be the creature with the closest relationship with the creator. By soaring great heights, he can travel between the physical and the spiritual world, acting as a messenger to the creator. Unlike the raven’s ability to send messages down, the eagle sends messages and prayers to the Creator. Although every part of the eagle has separate and significant meanings, the Eagle as a whole signifies focus, great strength, peace, leadership and incredible prestige. The wings of an eagle symbolize the balance and co-dependency between females and males, and how each gender must work together in order to achieve harmonious results.

The eagle is, indeed, a majestic and noble bird in many cultures; it is associated by the Greeks with the God Zeus, by the Romans with Jupiter, by the Germanic tribes with Odin who shifted into an eagle, and with the Druids as a symbol of the Supreme God.

And what about Judaism? – The eagle is a symbol of mercy in Jewish thought. The eagle (even though it is a non-kosher bird) is mentioned frequently in the Bible in various symbolic ways. Describing the manner in which God brought the Jewish people out of Egypt, God says: I carried you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to me. And in Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.”

For more information on Skwachàys Lodge visit https://skwachays.com/