Live from the 'Latch Item Number: 2954/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

"Live from the 'Latch" archival pigment print. The print is in the form of a poster advertising a musical performance. On a yellow background with monochromatic formline images is the shape of a red copper, containing red formline on top and bottom. In the centre is text printed in red and green referring to a concert by "Billy and the Chiefs." Image deliberately appears to be old (wrinkled and discoloured), with ragged edges. The poster is surrounded by a black background. Edition 3 of 67.

Narrative

Artist’s statement: "Live From the 'Latch serves as an anthropological remnant of the famously busted Village Island potlatch in 1921. It promotes the Strict Law Tour, headlined by the fictional band, Billy and the Chiefs, fronted by my great-great-grandfather, Chief Billy Assu. "Strict law" is a term that explains a deep, inherent compulsion within Kwakwaka'wakw society to dance and practice our cultural beliefs. However, from 1884–1951 the Canadian government banned the potlatch in an effort to eradicate those desires from the First People. The potlatch went underground during those 67 years. Live from the 'Latch was inspired by the recording of Chief Billy Assu (and other Northwest Coast chiefs, including Mungo Martin) by Dr. Ida Halpern between 1947 and 1953. She recorded over 300 tracks of Northwest Coast songs during the latter years of the potlatch ban. I found it interesting that during that ban, my great-great-grandfather was allowed to sing these songs for the sake of anthropological preservation, but he was unable to freely practice the culture outside of those recording sessions. The poster stemmed from two new works I created for the exhibition Beat Nation at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 2012: Ellipsis and Billy and the Chiefs: The Complete Banned Collection. The image is in the aesthetics of my unique style of formline, presenting a Crooked Beak Hamat’sa figure within a chief's copper. The shape within the Crooked Beak's eye, and repeated two other times, is what has been colloquially known as the "spider"—the 45 (or “single”) adapter for turntables."

Item History

What

Name
Live from the 'Latch
Identification Number
2954/1
Type of Item
print
Overall
height 57.0 cm, width 41.5 cm

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Creator
Sonny Assu (Maker)
Previous Owner
Vancouver Art Gallery Store
Received from
Vancouver Art Gallery Store (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Acquisitions Budget (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
during 2012
Ownership Date
before May 4, 2012
Acquisition Date
on May 4, 2012

Other

Item Classes
works on paper
Condition
excellent
Accession Number
2954/0001