Sheena, Gerry
Gerry Sheena is a member of the Interior Salish Nation and has been carving for over 20 years. His carving style is traditionally Salish, informed by modern painting techniques and innovative use of color and design. He has carved masks, bowl, rattles, plaques and various sizes of totem poles.
He is a mainly self-taught artist who has been carving most of his adult life, working almost exclusively in yellow and red cedar. He has received some guidance and training from Henry McKay and has worked extensively with renowned Kwakwaka’wakw artist Stan Hunt III. Stan has greatly assisted Gerry in refining his detailing, which is reflected in his current works.
Gerry Sheena attended fine arts programs at Langara Community College and the Emily Carr University of Art + Design Vancouver, BC, as well as a jewelry design program at Vancouver Community College. He continues to develop his work, incorporating Northern carving techniques with Salish graphic elements.
From 1998-2002, he mentored youth in the Collingwood community to create public art. In four years, they completed four carvings (Synala Totem Pole, The Multicultural Gateway, The Guardian of the Park and the Renfrew Park Eagle). Gerry met Rolf Bouman in 2018 who invited him to work on totem poles in Nova Scotia.
His art can be found in the Museum of Anthropology at the University of Columbia. Gerry also is a very gifted painter.