Alan Syliboy

As Alan walks through this life he has made everlasting contributions and impressions that will teach and share his culture for generations to come.

In the beginning, I found painting painful and difficult because I was unsure of my own identity. As my exploration of painting and my understanding of Mi’kmaq spiritualism expanded, my confidence and ability grew with it. Since my family is where I am centered, everything else is exterior. I feel that I have gained the inner strength to conceptualize my spiritualism. Simplicity of line and color and uncomplicated symbolism now gives my work a cleanness and strength. From this point of beginning I incorporate new themes and mediums to insure my artistic impression.

Elements of Mi’kmaq petroglyph records found throughout Nova Scotia provide some inspiration for the developing of my general theme, which is my expression of the pride and understanding attached to our cultural heritage. Most of my subjects deal with family, searching, struggle, and strength. All these things are part of my art, and my art gives me strength for my continuing spiritual quest.” “Like many others in my generation, I grew up believing that native art was generic – what you see on TV and in other mass media.” He argues “Visual expressions are part of what makes a culture unique, and, although Mi’kmaq designs are similar to other North American woodland tribes, you can easily recognize the difference.” He looked to the indigenous Mi’kmag petroglyph tradition (rock drawings) for inspiration and developed his own artistic vocabulary out of those forms. His popularization of these symbolic icons has conferred on them a mainstream legitimacy that restores community pride in its Mi’kmaq heritage.

About Alan

With this purely Mi’kmaq vocabulary he has allowed his brush and pen to lead him to images of family for his series of serigraph prints. ‘Grandfather and Grandmother’ has put new faces on the flow of constellations and galaxies across the night sky. The past, present, and future of strong family ties are celebrated in a series of spiritedly images that suggest the fantasies of Klee and Miro to those familiar with European art history, but their artistic roots are firmly twined around the rocks found in the ancient grounds of Nova Scotia. And, Mr. Syliboy also wanted his own people to enjoy his art “Most Mi’kmaq do not go to museums on Sunday afternoons,” he quips. He began selling his beautifully designed T-shirts door to door on his own reserve, and then to other reserves in Nova Scotia and the Maritime Provinces of Canada. And his intuition was well founded. “Most of my native customers did not know the traditional designs of their own people”, he admits.

Alan Syliboy was the first artist Down To Earth Art Gallery approached when we opened in 1996, and we’ve had a wonderful relationship ever since. Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy is the grandson of Rachel Marshall, the first woman to become a band chief on a Canadian First Nations Reserve. He developed a love of drawing at an early age which led him to study with New Brunswick artist Shirley Bear. Bear became his mentor and spiritual guide.

His formal training includes study at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Alan resides on the Millbrook Reserve in Nova Scotia where he was born and raised. Mr. Syliboy’s art is influenced by the petroglyph and folklore of his ancestors. He has attained international recognition for his work based on Native legends. His work is found around the world in numerous private and public collections including the art Gallery of Nova Scotia and the National Indian Art Collection of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. In 1999 he designed the Butterfly Gold Coin for the Royal Canadian Mint. In 2009 Alan was commissioned by VANOC to create a 96 foot mural for the Olympic Games which he titled “People of the Dawn”.

I consider Down to Earth Art Gallery (Elaine & Gerard), as more than my number one Gallery, I consider them to be my friends. With a 20+ year relationship, they have been my strongest supporter in Eastern Canada. They show a deep respect for my work, and provide their clients with high quality collector pieces. I look forward to continuing a long-term relationship with this highly professional Gallery.

Alan Syliboy

Mi’kmaq Artist