Page 33 - Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation

Acknowledging Artist Sharifah Marsden

a Champion

This exhibit included jewellery pieces that
she created during her time at the Vancouver
Metal Arts School, as well as paintings. She has
since shown her work in other galleries.

Sharifah’s creativity is also displayed in the
murals she has created with other artists. In
2010, she contributed to the largest mural
in Western Canada in Vancouver. More
recently, she has contributed to murals for the
Vancouver Mural Festival.

On her website, Sharifah states that her “artistic
goal as an Anishinaabe jeweller is to continue
to stay true to my cultural art practice, and be
successful in this to ensure to contribute to an
overall recognition of Anishinaabe art. I work
on this goal every day with a commitment
harifah started painting and creating
to develop my technical skills and to teach
designs on powwow regalia from an
art to the next generation. I must do my
early age. She states, “One of the earliest
part to ensure that the Anishinaabe style
Steachings from my mother was to
grows through the tradition of engraving
continue creating images that relate to my
and goldsmithing.”
culture, in order to maintain my connection to
my Anishinaabe heritage, and for my identity
to endure throughout formal training.” She now
draws from her Anishinaabe roots to create
unique works that include everything from
acrylic paintings to beadwork to engraving.
Her gold and silver jewellery often feature
Anishinaabe beadwork designs.

Sharifah is a graduate of Vancouver’s
Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts program and
the Vancouver Metal Arts School. Her first solo
exhibit was at Vancouver’s Lattimer Gallery.

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