The trip to Vancouver International Airport will soon be paved with dynamic banners along Grant McConachie Way, the departures and arrivals ramps and throughout the airport's parkade.
Vancouver Airport Authority and the YVR Art Foundation unveiled the winning designs of the inaugural street banner contest, which celebrates First Nations art in British Columbia.
The winning artists, Valerie Malesku from Queen Charlotte City and Michelle Stoney from Hazelton, were recognized for their work at the ceremony Tuesday.
The designs capture a First Nations aesthetic mixed with the contemporary theme of flight against a blue background with the YVR logo underneath.
Malesku's banner incorporates land, sea and sky, as it freezes eagles in flight. Stoney's piece, on the other hand, takes the traditional "weget" - a raven and favourite character that transforms into anything - and captures it as it transforms into a plane.
"Vancouver Airport Authority and YVR Art Foundation continue to work together to champion First Nations art and we are delighted that the work of these two tremendous artists will be shared with the thousands of passengers that arrive and depart from YVR each day," said Anne Murray, vice president community and environmental affairs at VAA, and chair of the board of directors for the YVR Art Foundation.
Where Malesku works with more traditional styles of art, Stoney combines her contemporary education at Emily Carr with the conventional First Nations art she learned from her grandfather.
The theme of the contest was flight and it was designed to reflect the province's distinctive cultural heritage and its beauty. It was open to First Nations artists who are B.C. residents and at least 17 years old. The winning pieces will be featured on 36 banners.
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