Fort 91原创 received some Indigenous flair last weekend, with the installation of a mural project by Kwantlen First Nation artist Brandon Gabriel.
Gabriel鈥檚 project is a second version of a mural he had previously painted in Fort 91原创 in 2006 for Jasmine Marjanovic, owner of Cranberries Naturally.
The 2006 mural depicted Indigenous culture and was painted on the walls of Fort 91原创鈥檚 Gasoline Alley, but was painted over in 2017 by property owner and developer Eric Woodward.
Now that Cranberries Naturally is moving into a new location at 9124 Glover Rd., Marjanovic commissioned Gabriel once again to create an updated version of the previous mural.
鈥淚 was just out of arts school at Emily Carr University and eager to showcase my talent to the world. I really filled that space with a lot of content,鈥� Gabriel explained of the early mural.
鈥淭his new piece is much smaller than the original, however, I still think I鈥檓 able to pull off this image of indigeneity, and integrate it into this new business frontage.鈥�
Gabriel painted the mural on panels, which were installed on the interior walls of Cranberries Naturally on Sunday, Jan. 20.
鈥淭his is quite a bit different endeavor because it鈥檚 an interior retail space meaning there鈥檚 already quality finishing on the inside of the building, so my challenge is taking this piece and putting it on smaller panels and re-installing it on the site afterwards,鈥� said Gabriel.
Gabriel explained that Fort 91原创 is a significant space for First Nations people because it鈥檚 where the proclamation of British Columbia was signed.
鈥淎s far as I know, when that proclamation was signed it was done in protest by the Kwantlen people and many Coast Salish nations who live along the Fraser River today. So there鈥檚 a history of conflict with it. There鈥檚 still this ongoing narrative taking place between the new settlers in this region and the Indigenous people.鈥�
The purpose of the mural is to offer a more Indigenous feel to Fort 91原创, and to showcase Coast Salish culture.
Fort 91原创 is a significant space for First Nations people, because it鈥檚 where the proclamation of British Columbia was signed, Gabriel said, explaining the motivation behind his piece.
As he鈥檚 gleaned from history, the proclamation was not welcomed by his Kwantlen ancestors and the Coast Salish communities who still live along the Fraser River today.
鈥淪o there鈥檚 a history of conflict with it,鈥� he said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 still this ongoing narrative taking place between the new settlers in this region and the Indigenous people,鈥� Gabriel elaborated.
The purpose of his mural is to incorporate a more Indigenous feel to Fort 91原创, and to showcase the Coast Salish culture. Scanning the finished product, he believes he鈥檚 achieved that.
鈥淗aving a presence in this community is really important. It shows the humanity of Indigenous people. It shows that we were a part of the construction of this location, we were part of the vision from the beginning, and that is really important to me,鈥� he elaborated.
Marjanovic moved her storefront from the long-time Gasoline Alley location to the new Glover Road location when the 鈥渙pportunity presented itself.鈥�
And incorporating Gabriel鈥檚 new mural as part of her new store was imperative for Marjanovic.
She loves that Gabriel鈥檚 art 鈥渞epresents where this community started, how it started, and how it should continue to be.鈥�
鈥淭his piece in particular is fantastic for so many reasons. History is history and you always have to think about why you鈥檙e here.鈥�
This time around, Marjanovic explained, Gabriel painted the mural on 16 panels so that 鈥渘obody will be able to mess with the art.鈥�
鈥淚f I ever sell this building or move, [the art] will be donated to the museum,鈥� she concluded.
Cranberries Naturally had its last day at the old location on Dec. 24. The doors to the new location, at 9124 Glover Rd., are set to open on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 10 a.m.
