Fire at the Fraser
Date: June 26, 2020
Artwork description: ‘Fire at the Fraser’, 4” x 6”, watercolour and Fraser River water
Artist Statement:
This piece is called ‘Fire at the Fraser’, it was painted from an original picture that was taken during the Pandemic at the Matsqui side of the Fraser River. My husband and I would go to the river frequently when we were self-isolating (we still do). We would make a fire each night and watch the sun set, every night we would note different wild life that we would come across: beavers, herons, seals and bats. During this time, we would try and veer away from social media and the news and really focus on beautiful things that the Fraser Valley has to offer while we would go on walks or sit by the river and have a fire. This was so important for both our emotional and mental well-being, to ground us during an uncertain and unpredictable time. Of course, this influenced my artwork and one night, I gathered some Fraser River water in a jar and decided to make watercolour paintings of our nights at the river. This painting literally carries a part of the river within the fibers of the paper.
Personal Artist Statement:
Rebekah Brackett was born in Calgary, Alberta and belongs to the Pi ikani Nation. She moved with her family from Kelowna, British Columbia to Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. Rebekah began drawing as soon as she could hold a pencil. Rebekah moved with her family to Abbotsford, B.C and began school at the University of the Fraser Valley, completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2011 with a focus in painting and drawing, sculpture and new media arts. Rebekah reconnected with her biological family in 2011 in Calgary, Alberta. Rebekah works mainly in pen and ink, watercolour, pencil and new media (digital) arts. She is highly influenced by nature and exploring the Fraser Valley.
Social Media
Rebekah is on Facebook (Rebekah Brackett) and Instagram (@wednesticfriday).