Point, Susan
Susan began making limited edition prints on her kitchen table in 1981 while working as a legal secretary. She received several early commissions, which established her reputation for innovative proposals and for completing projects on time, on budget and at the highest level. She took courses in silver, casting and carving, all of which led to monumental sculptures in mixed media, and she was the first
Beaver and the Mink was chosen as the gift from the Canadian government to the new addition to the Smithsonian Institution’s
Susan inherited the values of her culture and traditions of her people as were taught to her mother, (Edna Grant-Point).
‘I seem to end up pushing myself one step beyond my goals, or one step in a new direction so often. This applies to my whole life; therefore my artwork is evolving all of the time. New situations, new experiences have always played fundamental roles in my art, this can be seen in my sometimes-playful use of colour and understanding of my ancestral visual language.
‘Thirty years ago I was trying my hands at re-creating ancestral artefacts; I am now pushing my artistic boundaries in every sense. Although, the most valued part of my artwork remains the same, my mark, and I leave this with every brushstroke, every- whittle of wood, every mark that I leave I study to be sure it is just the way I want it. That is my signature. From the time when I pulled silkscreens on my kitchen table, I have stayed the course thanks to my helpful family, with whom I teach and learn from on a daily basis.
‘All of my children are artists, and my grandchildren show so much promise. I am grateful for my opportunities to lead them through example, and I hope they are inheriting more than just the foundations of art and storytelling, but also the no-fear approach to conception that I am known for.’
Susan’s distinct style has induced a movement in Coast Salish art. She draws inspiration from the stories of her ancestors and commences the use of non-traditional materials and techniques, thus inspiring a whole new generation of
Susan is an officer of the Order of