Bottling art for the Olympics

Mi’qmak painter Alan Syliboy had never thought about using a Coke bottle as a canvas before the soft-drink corporation contacted him earlier this year and asked him if he’d consider a work to be highlighted at the Olympic Games in Vancouver this winter. Since he had already completed an Olympic-themed mural for the Trout Lake Community Centre in suburban Vancouver, the Millbrook First Nation resident was intrigued by the opportunity.

He admits to hesitating at promoting a giant multinational corporation, but Syliboy said the fact that the 15 works from First Nations artists across Canada will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Vancouver Aboriginal Youth Legacy Fund convinced him to take part in Coca-Cola’s Aboriginal Art Bottle Program.

Syliboy said his work evokes the rising sun on the Nova Scotia coast with traditional Mi’qmak designs that he has become known for. “We’re the people of the Eastern Door,” he told the Nation. “I wanted to portray that.”

Syliboy is excited to join the other 14 artists at the Artisans Village during the Winter Olympics for the unveiling of all the works.

“I like the idea of including Aboriginal peoples from all over Canada, not just from the West Coast. I think that’s big – they didn’t have to do that,” he said.