D erek G eorgeson and Aupe Studio

DEREK GEORGESON STARTED to carve in 2006 and was mentored by Darren and Bill Blaney of Homalco First Nation in Campbell River. His relations are to Homalco (paternal), Morricetown (maternal) near Smithers in Northern BC, Sechelt and Squamish. Darren originally designed for Derek in the early days.

“It’s all in the ovoids," Derek says. "It took me about ten years to figure out the designs and the story behind them.” His grandfather was a canoe carver, Albert Georgeson, and his father carved too; he has found inspiration from their work.

Recently Georgeson opened ‘Aupe Studio’ in Sechelt, by Porpoise Bay Provincial Park. Georgeson and his wife, Shy Watters, who is a Weaver, feature their art and cultural work in their new studio gallery. They reside on the homelands of shíshálh Nation and Georgeson finds himself splitting time between Sechelt and Northern Vancouver Island.

During Covid it was difficult to sell art, so they started to think that a studio space would fit their needs. They created a 16x16’ studio-styled gallery where clients could book an appointment and shop in isolatation in the studio. They worked hard together to put together an inviting space and get it stocked with many of their creations – from wood carving, cedar weaving, beading and more, they keep expanding their knowledge and grow more creativity from each experience with new mediums.

Georgeson’s first project was a totem. “I tend to go big,” he laughs, “but with age and health, I’m starting to scale down a bit. I can’t throw logs around like I used to.” Most of his original pieces are quite large, but now you can see he is scaling down and creating smaller pieces; they are also more affordable to collect.

That first totem is located on the Homalco Reservation in Campbell River. Other totems he has worked on are located in Powell River and Halfmoon Bay, between Gibsons and Sechelt, on the Sunshine Coast. Currently, Georgeson is working on a Bear/Salmon pole approximately 10’ in height. This one will be for sale once it’s complete.

Furniture is an enjoyable part of what he continues to create as he is inspired; he will start a piece because there is a piece of wood and he sees a form within it; he also works with clients on custom orders. “I try not to get too attached to my work as they go off with clients and find new homes," he says. "It’s such a joy to see their smiling face and their connection to the piece.”

He is working on a coffee table with a crouching wolf in an ovoid shape, and recently completed a custom 4’x8’ dining room table. The table featured a wolf and medicine wheel in the centre, with a raven opening a bentwood box letting the light out into a sun. The table took three years to complete – with client discussions, designing and then the carving itself. He expects to complete the coffee table in time for the summer season.

Georgeson’s future hopes are to expand his artistic skills, learning digital designing and carving jewellery. Right now, he is practicing on copper and working towards honing in this skill more and developing a unique style. “I’m excited to learn how to work with new mediums to keep with my own creative process; it’s important to explore new methods,” he says.

Aupe Studio is open with drop in hours 9-5 every day. Georgeson and Watters are creating on-site, and encourages you to drop by and enjoy their art work. On the approach to the studio, you will see the large carvings that Georgeson has created as an attraction for the studio. They are a part of the Coastal Cultural Alliance (CCA) and will be participating in the Purple Banner Tour and Art Walk this year.

Connect with Derek Georgeson on Facebook @FirstNationsCarvingsbyDerekGeorgeson www.coastculture.com

FEATURE ARTIST

DEREK GEORGESON Feather

Anchoring love into our lives is a muscle we need to exercise regularly to keep it strong. Gratitude practices benefit our self-esteem, sleep quality, positive outlook, and resilience. When we practice gratitude, we can stay stable in our heart space even when challenges arise. If we get out of sync with someone or something, we can return to our center much faster, focusing on and applying the lessons we have learned from challenges instead of reacting and attracting them back into our lives in the future. Showing up in love is synonymous with showing up in gratitude, for this feedback loop brings more and more love into our lives.

Taking a few minutes in the morning or evening to tune in to ourselves, to be grateful for our body, our lives, our loved ones, and beyond starts building the strength of love within us.

Write it down: I am thankful for (fill in the blank) this powerful writing exercise allows you to share your thoughts and feeling around a memory or event that happened today. You can think of something! It can be a simple as “I am thankful for that great cup of coffee this morning.” We all have something to be thankful, get into the practice of simple journaling.

Noticing and honouring the little things that the loved ones in our lives do for us helps us stay grounded in love. Did you know it takes three positive experiences to rebalance one negative experience? When we want to show up in love, we can practice consciously creating a positive connection with those we love by expressing our gratitude more than our critiques.

Intimately connected to gratitude is the practice of forgiveness. No matter how much we wish the past were different, holding on to grudges (against ourselves or others) only makes it more challenging to move forward. As you reflect on the topic of love this year, I invite you to take a moment to celebrate yourself! Showing up in love is a practice, and you have already come far!