Artist Statement I am continually pulling on a thread of understanding identity and where I belong. I explore themes of feeling disconnected from place and the effects of the industrialized society on our natural body. I am an indigenous artist of the Saik,uz First Nation. My art practice heavily includes plywood, with the materiality acting as colonized and commercialized pieces of land that are being brought back to the body. In my use of self portraiture it is not only bringing back the material to the land but my own identity and body. The body is both emerging from the plywood while being overtaken by it. The land is giving creation to my body while having my body dissolve into it. It is in that I am creating a dialogue with materials allowing them to teach me about myself. In the work I explore a Indigenous identity that is one of feeling a loss of their own culture in contemporary society. In my work the process of creation and the handling of natural materials in spaces of community teach me about myself and my ancestors. Artist Bio Jenna Short is an artist based In Victoria BC, who is currently studying Visual Arts at the University of Victoria in her undergrad. Jenna is a Dakelh artist from the Saik,uz First Nation located In which is now recognized as Vanderhoof BC. She grew up in Prince George BC for the beginning part of her childhood before ... read more...

Artist Statement I am continually pulling on a thread of understanding identity and where I belong. I explore themes of feeling disconnected from place and the effects of the industrialized society on our natural body. I am an indigenous artist of the Saik,uz First Nation. My art practice heavily includes plywood, with the materiality acting as colonized and commercialized pieces of land that are being brought back to the body. In my use of self portraiture it is not only bringing back the material to the land but my own identity and body. The body is both emerging from the plywood while being overtaken by it. The land is giving creation to my body while having my body dissolve into it. It is in that I am creating a dialogue with materials allowing them to teach me about myself. In the work I explore a Indigenous identity that is one of feeling a loss of their own culture in contemporary society. In my work the process of creation and the handling of natural materials in spaces of community teach me about myself and my ancestors. Artist Bio Jenna Short is an artist based In Victoria BC, who is currently studying Visual Arts at the University of Victoria in her undergrad. Jenna is a Dakelh artist from the Saik,uz First Nation located In which is now recognized as Vanderhoof BC. She grew up in Prince George BC for the beginning part of her childhood before ... read more...