A prolific local carver who also serves as a mentor to younger artists has been named the Riverboat Days Ambassador for 2025.
Stan Bevan will be introduced this evening at the Riverboat Days 2025 opening ceremonies beginning at 7 p.m. at George Little Park.
Bevan's most recent work in the area is Su-gigyet, the large installation placed in the centre of the Hwy 16/37 roundabout in late July.
Bevan had three apprentices on the project, which means 'new people' in the Sm'algyax language of the Ts'msyen people. Two other artists also made contributions to the installation.
Already the recipient of several awards, Bevan was one of the core artists and instructors in the formation of the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art at Coast Mountain College in Terrace.
Bevan traces his start in Indigenous art to 1979 at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art at 'Ksan in Hazeton, after which he apprenticed with his uncle, Dempsey Bob. Bob was also instrumental in establishing the Diesing school and the two served for years as instructors and program coordinators.
Visitors to the Kitselas First Nation's Kitselas Canyon National Historic Site will also be able to see Bevan's work there.
And passengers flying in and out of Vancouver International Airport will see works by artists selected by a board on which Bevan sits.
More about Su-gigyet can be viewed here on this video produced for the Skeena Salmon Arts Festival Society, the same group which commisioned the installation,
