Artists
With Prior's roots firmly planted in the Pacific Northwest, it's natural that our graphics are consistently influenced by the local surroundings and people who live here. Canadian themes, native art, natural Whistler landmarks, and contributions from local artists continue to be the inspiration behind the Prior graphics lineup.
Read on to find out more about the artists that have helped to create the 2010/11 Prior lineup.
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Dylan Thomas
Born in Victoria, Qwul'thilum (Dylan Thomas) is a Coast Salish artist from the Lyackson First Nation. Dylan was exposed to the art at a young age because his family continues to participate in their culture and tradition. He has done some training in jewelry with Seletze (Delmar Johnnie) and is currently apprenticing under Rande Cook in all mediums of the art. Rande has also been a major help in the development of Dylan's design. His other artistic influences have been the late Art Thompson, Susan Point and Robert Davidson.
To see more of Dylan's works visit www.dylan-thomas.ca
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Olga Cuttell
Olga was born in Ufa Russia (Bashkortostan), just west of the Ural Mountains, about two decades before the fall of communism. She moved to Western Canada in 2005. Surrounded by the inspirational landscapes of BC, Olga began her journey into artistic expression.
Olga is an untrained artist who had been sketching and painting recreationally her whole young life.
Her work attempts to present it as a given that there is no greater source of positive inspiration than nature; be it lonely, majestic, playful or powerful.
Season 2010/11 represents the first year that Olga has worked with Prior.
For a deeper look into her work visit her website: www.oladesign.net.
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Justin Ormiston
Justin grew up skateboarding, snowboarding and attending art/photography classes in Ontario until he made the move to Whistler in 1998. He alternated between snowboarding in Whistler and surfing in Hawaii and in his spare time he experimented with Acrylic paint and charcoal.
He slowly started designing tattoos for friends and his tattoo apprenticeship began in 2003. After one year of learning under the guidance of Robin Dutcher, he began his tattoo career in 2004. He worked with Robin and Dave Petko at Black Ohm until October 2007 and on January 1st, 2008 he opened a private tattoo shop named Ormiston Inkworks Ltd.
To this date he continues to work out of his private tattoo studio and art gallery here in Whistler. Justin's creativity and unique style have become renowned in the area. To find out more and to view his works go to www.ormistonink.com
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Clarence Steven Mills
Haida Name: Gah-ghin-skuss (Out of your own land)
Member of: the Eagle Clan, Skidegate
Crest: Split Raven, Grizzly Bear
A Haida native from Skidegate in the Queen Charlotte Islands, Clarence Mills is an established Haida artist known throughout the world. His works sell in museums, galleries and native art shops throughout Europe and North America.
He creates glass totems, engraved silver and gold jewelry, cedar and glass bowls, doors and limited edition prints, but Mills' claim to fame rests in his prowess as a carver. He was a featured artist at Expo 86 in Vancouver and Expo 88 in Brisbane, Australia where he carved a six meter totem pole that graced the entrance outside the Canadian Pavilion. In 1997, he was commissioned to carve a 4 meter high cedar totem for a native exhibit at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Mills has been given a gift from his ancestors. He endows his creations with a powerful energy, smooth flowing style and images that speak through his symbolic Haida figures. He strives for one achievement - to begin a process for many people who have never understood their connection to the spirits of the land and all its creatures.
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Jason Clark & Chris Hylton
JC joined the Prior sales and marketing staff in the fall of 2007 and brought with him an array of artistic talents from drawing and painting, to performance art, to graphic design. After the success of his 'Destination' topsheet design in the 0809 Prior lineup and the Spectrum topsheet in the 0910 lineup, we have decided to bring him on board once more.
JC chose to work in collaboration with his good friend, skateboard buddy and fellow artist, Chris Hylton.
While JC studied Contemporary Fine Arts in Ontario, Chris was studying Visual Communications in Arizona and both continued to call on each other to exchange ideas and thereby continue to grow and diversify their respective artistic repertoires (we like to call them team 'NAFTA': North American Free Thought Alliance).
Chris is now a professional graphic designer and is currently working from his independent studio CHdesign. Find out more about Chris and his designs at www.chdesigner.com To find out more about JC, just contact Prior!
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Chili Thom
Chili Thom is a local Whistler painter, filmmaker, professional DJ, TV host and mountain guide. The eerie and compelling 'Afterglo' topsheet is his third topsheet design for Prior in the last 11 years and we are excited to have him in the mix.
Born and raised in British Columbia, Chili has led a fascinating and inspiring life hiking and exploring the vast and beautiful wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. Thus, the primary inspiration for his work has always been the natural world and the amazing landscapes of B.C.
Working primarily in acrylic paints he has developed a style that uses linear brush strokes, unique perspectives and saturated colours to capture a sense of motion and the passage of time to invoke a mood similar to actually being out there in the hills.
Rightfully so, Chili has been voted Peoples' Choice for 'Best Artist' in the Whistler's Pique News Magazine for the past four years.
You can usually find him at "The Creation Station", his warehouse/studio just down the road from Prior in Function Junction, or you can check out what he's been up to at www.chilithom.com
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