More artists to the acre...			...in Hazelton
			by Maggie Carew

There are probably more artists to the acre in the Hazeltons than anywhere else on the planet, with the possible exception of Florence in Italy. The Museum Village and carving school at 'Ksan are world famous, and justly so. But in addition to the master carvers and gifted artists of the Gitxsan nation, there are scores of others who have no venue to exhibit their work and become known. Some of them got together in 1997 to establish the Misty Rivers Community Arts Council, to promote and encourage the arts in the Hazelton area. Many of its members are beginners, or people who enjoy just making things on long winter evenings, but some are skilled and serious artists.

Derek Stow's metalwork

They include painters, potters, sculptors, quilters, writers and actors. Their definition of art is broad: any work that is done with joy and passion and integrity may be defined as art, even if it is not great art. A good example is Derek Stow, a welder by trade, who is also well known locally as a musician. He is a regular performer at the Kispiox Valley Music Festival and at the popular monthly coffee houses that help to make life bearable in the winter. Derek uses his welding skills to make sculptures out of used car parts. His candlesticks are elegant and unusual. They also help the environment, because Derek re-uses metal that would otherwise rust away in the landfill. He says he lacked the confidence to call himself an artist until the Arts Council approached him about exhibiting his work.

Pine needle baskets by Gretel Miles

Gretel Miles makes pine-needle baskets using a technique she learned from Cree artist Dory LaBoucaine, who studied and worked at the Kitanmaax School of North West Coast Indian Art at 'Ksan. Gretel shapes her baskets by sewing the pine needles tightly together, and then decorates them with semi-precious stones, feathers and dried flowers.