And a possible new artist statement… not ready to say its totally part of my artistic premiss, but I’ll work on it a bit. To put this in context, I’m taking part in an exhibit next year at the Bill Reid Gallery called Continuum. The premiss of the show is to create a modern discourse on traditional work. Which is something I’m doing anyway. Yet, I’m not creating traditional work… its more like I’m creating a modern discourse for traditionally inspired iconography. its complicated to explain at the moment and I don’t want this to get too wordy. Which bye the time you’re finished reading this, will have been 
iPotlatch v2: 10,000 ancestors in your pocket was commissioned by the Bill Reid Foundation with support from Arts Partners in Creative Development. ©Sonny Assu, 2008
Acrylic on Canvas, 3′x6′.
Has the iPod become the Raven? Or has the Raven become the iPod?
For the continuum project, I recognized I was in a boat that only a few others paddle along with me: we are creating traditional inspired work in a contemporary context. By adopting items of pop-culture as the new iconography. I’ve been developing a series of work call the Personal Totems series. This series explores the notion that the items of pop-culture (what we as consumers covet) have become our new totemic imagery. How will our mythos translate into a modern world? I asked myself a basic question one day: How would the Raven fit into the new world? If we are to believe our mythology, where has the Raven gone? The Raven, in essence, hasn’t gone all that far. The Raven is a cunning creature, who not only craves attention, but likes to covet items that make him happy. We have become the Raven in our contemporary culture: we covet items that make us happy. iPods, the latest cell phones, cars, money, etc.
But we never ask ourselves why. Why do I need all this shit?
Raven, the trickster, has transformed himself into Mass-Media; Poking at our brains with his commercial-break beak, telling us what we crave on a subconscious level. We crave like the Raven, But where he craved the sun for his own selfish needs… we crave a grande half foam extra hot latte. But by mistake, the Raven gave us light. And by mistake, we have created a consumer society that unites us, yet distances us from each other. We crave technology that keeps us connected, yet at the same time isolates us in our own little sound track world.
The iPod, much like Coca-Cola, has become a recognizable symbol of the modern age. To own one speaks of individuality. But to own one says I’m just like you. This tiny combination of metal, plastic, circuits and flashing lights unifies us: You might not have anything in common with the long haired, black-band-shirt-wearing-metal-head, bopping along to the screaming death metal on the bus; but when you notice he to has an iPod, you are both connected though this pop culture totem. Regardless of the fact you may or may not be listening to something completely different than him, you are part of the same clan: the iPod clan.
The iPod is the new cultural icon. But it isn’t just limited to this one particular piece of technology. The iPod is a symbol of the technology and pop-consumer movement, and it could be replaced by any other item of pop/consumer/techno-culture: Cell Phone, PDA, MP3 player, computer, laptop, running shoes, clothing, food and even a person.
My work over the past 6 months has been developing into a modern and abstract approach to form-line and design. I recognize that I am unique and that I want to set myself apart from others who use this imagery and technique. I am creating my own tradition: Appropriating imagery from the dominant culture to speak about the ideas of progression. To fully be considered in a modern discourse, we need to draw a line between assimilation and manifestation. My work is a manifestation of a new direction.
Bill Reid set out to have the stylized form-line become part of the modern art discourse. He was able to elevate our art practise into a new light. There comes a time, when the student becomes the master. I’ve taken the notion of tradition and combined it with modern imagery to form a new discourse. Why?
To inspire others to follow my path, then stray from it.
(
