Dreamscapes - Gwaii Haanas Tl'ak'aa.uu (Barnacle) by Danielle Louise Allard (Haida)

The dreamscapes series is an exploration into the explored and unexplored places of the world and the mind. Melding experience and imagination into one dreamy painting. The GH sub section of this series is created from experiencing a week long adventure in Gwaii Haanas. 

Tl'ak'aa.uu means barnacle in Haida.  Gwaii Haanas is an ecological and cultural treasure. Located in southern Xaayda Gwaay (Haida Gwaii), an archipelago situated off the north Pacific coast, Gwaii Haanas is a 5000 km2 protected area known for its diverse ecosystems, distinct flora and fauna, living Haida culture, and cooperative management model. Haida oral traditions tell of the origins of Haida Gwaii, the supernaturals and the kuuniisii (Haida ancestors), who came out of the ocean. Kuuniisii lived in villages throughout Gwaii Haanas and governed through a clan system to manage the land and sea. The rich abundance of Haida Gwaii sustained clans and communities for thousands of years through to present day, defining a culture rooted in the relationship between humans and the natural and supernatural worlds. Gwaii Haanas is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Since childhood, Danielle has been interested in creating; drawing, painting and building, using any materials she could get her hands on. Continuing her artistic exploration through her youth eventually brought her to choose to study Fashion Design and Fine Arts in post secondary education. The study of art brought a fresh new way of thinking to her life and opened her mind to unlimited ideas and potential; the development of her work benefitted greatly from this and her experimentation began, continuing to utilize all mediums and concepts that intrigued her. As her skills developed and she slowly narrowed her artistic vision, she started to educate herself more about her Haida culture and background. During this time she continued making work for galleries and shows creating acrylic paintings, block prints and mixed media pieces; but, in her spare time, she was reading up on the Haida culture and working on studies of great Haida master artists. She currently resides in Masset, Haida Gwaii, to continue her study of Haida art apprenticing with master carvers and artisans.