Indian Art from the Edge

Marylee Stephenson came today to tell us about her new creation—

Indian Art from the Edge.

Maylee has been a UBC professor and has held other teaching posts during her career as an educator as well as having written travel books.

On retirement she has put together this web site to sell Indian Art.

She stated this web site to sell Indian art and create some income for marginalized artists.

Often these people live on the streets and are hard to find and deal with but the reward of the Art has been totally worthwhile.

She has started out by asking small dollars for this art and is selling online to reduce the overhead costs.

The intent is to create income for starving artists.

An art gallery is too expensive in Real Estate.

She has 100 items on the web site today.

Many of her artists are living in the SOR hotels downtown.

Some are in good ones but not all.

Some of them have health issues as well as addiction problems and are often hard to find or contact.

They do keep up with their art.  Often it is the one thing that has kept them sane during periods of great difficulty.

Some came through the residential schools.  One of her artists learned to carve whilst in jail.

Most learn art work early in life usually 8 to 10 years of age.

Mayrleee taught Social work and has a PhD in Sociology so work on the downtown eastside has been a natural for her.  Still it is a challenge.

Sometimes she will buy the artists supplies then present them to the artists and wait for the results.

All of the art works are one off originals.

Some of them have been sold for as little as $30 .  Some as much as $400.

She has not represented any well know artist yet.

She currently has about 10 artists and is looking for more.

Some she has to pay up front but most are sold on consignment.

Some have poor health but the improvement in their well being has been significant since she started selling their art.

They feel they have a job and that gives them a purpose in life.

So now their work is out there and they are employed doing what they love.

Leigh thanked the speaker.