Thornhill roundabout to feature Su-gigyet art installation, backed by provincial grant
A collaboration of regional artists, including Kitselas master carver Stan Bevan, brings a culturally rich art installation to a key intersection in Thornhill
The Skeena Salmon Arts Festival announced a significant boost to its upcoming Su-gigyet art installation project, with the receipt of a provincial grant. In a Nov. 8 press release, the festival unveiled details of the installation, slated for the Thornhill roundabout at the intersection of Hwy 16 and Hwy 37.
The Su-gigyet project, a collaborative venture, features the artistic prowess of Kitselas master carver Stan Bevan, who is Ts’msyen/Tlingit/Tahltan, and wood and metal artists Rod Brown and Mike Sorochan, who hail from the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine.
“We're delighted to see Su-gigyet come to fruition,” said Skeena Salmon Arts Festival Society President Dave Gordon. “This project has been proposed since 2018 and this funding means the artists and the project team can get to work.”
Gordon said emphasized the installation's role in enhancing the region's artistic landscape and its commitment to reconciliation through the arts.
“Su-gigyet will be a world-class art installation that will continue to grow the area’s reputation for its promotion of regional artists, the support of public art and work toward reconciliation through the arts,” Gordon said.
The centerpiece of Su-gigyet, designed by Stan Bevan, is a trio of wooden human figures, elegantly enclosed in aluminum shrouds crafted by Mike Sorochan. This central piece is complemented by six large wooden salmon carvings by Roderick Brown of Cohowood Studio.
Su-gigyet, which translates to "new people" in the Sm’algyax language of the Ts’msyen, symbolizes "the original people embracing a new way of doing things.” This name, rich in cultural significance, was bestowed upon the project by the late Kitselas elder, Sm-oogyet Sha-gann (Mel Bevan), who is also Stan Bevan's father.
“We are grateful to Sm-oogyet Sha-gann (Mel Bevan) for the gift of this name, and we hope this installation will honour his legacy," Gordon said.
The project will also include interpretive signage and a designated viewing area near the traffic circle, along with small art replicas for visitors.
The location at Thornhill roundabout was strategically chosen to symbolize the connection between Kitselas, Thornhill, alongside other communities in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, as well as Terrace. It also serves as a nexus for travelers heading to various destinations across the region.
Anticipated for completion in September 2025, the Skeena Salmon Arts Festival promises that Su-gigyet will be a landmark artistic endeavour, enriching the cultural and visual landscape of northwestern British Columbia.