Coast Mountain College is pleased to reveal this year’s Convocation art piece, commissioned to honour the unique circumstances under which the graduating class of 2020-21 completed their studies.
This year’s selected artwork was designed by Skidegate’s Raven Leblanc (Haida – Eagle Clan) who created the piece In This Together as a tribute to the students who completed their courses and programs during this pandemic year.
The print, depicting a pod of killer whales, accented with the glacier colour that is be associated with CMTN, is representative of family, intelligence and resilience.
“Whether it be the strong familial bonds of resident killer whales or the long journeys travelled by the transient killer whales — they are a symbol of strength,” says Leblanc, who is also a graduate of CMTN’s Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art.
“Through the hardships, and all the ups and downs of the pandemic, we are in this together much like the members of a Killer Whale pod swimming together.”
Each graduating student will receive a limited edition print of In This Together. It is a gift to commemorate each student’s hard work and achievement and is fitting as a symbol of togetherness and achievement in hard times.
“Just like the up and down journey of the killer whales depicted in this year’s convocation art piece, we know that our students’ journeys have been challenging but also rewarding,” says Coast Mountain College President and CEO, Justin Kohlman.
“We are so proud of our students and we hope that this print will remind them, for years to come, of their accomplishments and the support they had from family and friends along the way.”
Over the coming week, Coast Mountain College will be sharing stories, highlighting student success and sharing special messages to celebrate the class of 2020-21. Congratulations to all our graduates.
About the artist
Raven LeBlanc is from Skidegate, Haida Gwaii and is of the Naa Saagaas X̲aaydaGaay Eagle clan. Raven got her beginnings in Haida art working under Robin Rorick and Ben Davidson after graduating high school.
For her post-secondary education, she attended Emily Carr University of Art & Design and Freda Diesing School of Northwest Art. She has also worked at Haida Gwaii Museum and enjoys learning about her culture and sharing it with others. She now works under master carver and chief Jim Hart and his crew carving monumental Haida art.
In her work, Raven strives to share a story that engages the audience’s curiosity, memories, and imagination. She also wants to share the visual language of her culture like her ancestors did for thousands of years.
Media contact
Sarah Zimmerman, APR
Executive Director, Communications
Coast Mountain College
250.641.2206
szimmerman@coastmountaincollege.ca