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Raven Shares the Light

Raven Shares the Light is a public art project by artist Krystle Silverfox in Dawson City, Yukon as part of the CreateSpace Public Art Residency by STEPS Public Art and in partnership with the ODD Gallery. This project consists of five anamorphic sculptures that tells the story of the Raven releasing the sun for all to share and enjoy along the Yukon River.

Project at a glance

Location: Front St and Princess St along the Yukon River, Dawson City, Yukon

Artists: Krystle Silverfox

Documentarians: John Howland Photography

Year: 2023-2024

Services: Artist Capacity Building

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artist-in-residence

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About Raven Shares the Light

Raven Shares the Light is a series of 5 minimalist and anamorphic sculptures by Northern Tutchone artist Krystle Silverfox as part of the CreateSpace Public Art Residency and in partnership with the ODD Gallery. Paying homage to the story of the Raven and the Sun (an important and ancestral Yukon First Nations story), the sculptures overlook the Dawson City waterfront along the Yukon River. The sculptures are seemingly abstract until viewers stand in a specific location where the art pieces align to create an abstracted image of Raven. To celebrate the return of the Sun after Yukon’s long and dark winters, the sculptures will appear to hold the sun in Raven’s beak once the Sun’s path returns to hover over the road to the Midnight Dome.

Welding of an outdoor sculptural public art piece

The Story of the Raven and the Sun

The story of the Raven begins with their shape-shifting abilities to transform themselves into various forms in order to steal the Sun from a great Chief who stored the Sun, Stars, and Moon in bentwood boxes. With the world in darkness, the Raven (a bird who loves shiny things) created a plan to acquire the celestial beings from the boxes. 

Disguised as a spruce needle floating in the water, the Chief’s daughter accidentally drank Raven and became pregnant with a son (Raven in disguise). Once the son was born, the Chief allowed his grandson to play with the bentwood boxes that contained the Moon and Stars. Disguised as the son, Raven released the Moon and Stars into the dark sky. 

The Chief tells his grandson that he cannot play with the last box with the Sun, as he doesn’t want the Sun to be released. However, as the son sulks, the Chief relents and allows him to play with the last box–but only if he doesn’t touch the Sun. Still disguised as the son, the boy opened the box and grabbed the Sun, instantly transforming back into a White Raven with the Sun in his beak. As a quick escape, Raven flew out the smoke stack and becoming the black bird we know today. Raven then releases the Sun for all to share and enjoy.

A series of 5 abstract sculptures in Dawson City, Yukon by artist Krystle Silverfox

About the Artist

Krystle Silverfox

Krystle Silverfox

Krystle Silverfox is a Selkirk First Nation (Wolf Clan) interdisciplinary visual artist living and working on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwach’an Council (Whitehorse, Yukon). Silverfox holds both a BFA in Visual Art (2015); a BA in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice from UBC (2013); also an MFA in Interdisciplinary studies from Simon Fraser University (2019). Inspired by a material-focused practice, Silverfox uses visual mediums to communicate ideas and tell stories. Silverfox’s work explores concepts of Indigenous futurism, feminism, activism, and de-colonialism.

@krystylesilverfox

Partners

ODD Gallery logo

Funders

The CreateSpace Public Art Residency is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Race Relations Foundation with funding provided by the Government of Canada, and TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment.

We’re also grateful for the additional support by Arctech Circle Welding Services, Robert Service School, and Wildstone Construction.

2023 CreateSpace Public Art Residency funder logos (Canada Council for the Arts, TD Ready Commitment, Canadian Race Relations Foundation)

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