Jay Simeon facts for kids

Jay Simeon (born July 27, 1976) is a talented Canadian artist. He is part of the Haida nation through his father's family. The Haida are an Indigenous group from the Pacific Northwest Coast. Jay was born into the Kaawaas branch of the Sdast’a.aas Eagle clan. This means his family belongs to the Eagle clan. His family's special symbols, called crests, include the Eagle, Supernatural Killer Whale, Frog, Beaver, and Raven. His mother is from the Blackfoot people, another Indigenous group. Jay was born in Fort Macleod, Alberta.

Becoming a Haida Artist

Jay Simeon started learning Haida art when he was 14 years old. He found his passion for this unique art form early on. He studied the basic rules of Haida design with his aunt, Sharon Hitchcock. She helped him understand the traditional ways of creating art.

Art Education and Style

Jay continued his art education at Vancouver Community College. There, he completed an advanced design course. He also learned from the famous artist Robert Davidson. This training happened at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre.

Jay's art uses many different materials. He works with wood, a special stone called argillite, silver, and gold. He also creates silkscreen prints. These are artworks made by pushing ink through a screen.

Exhibitions and Collections

Since 2003, Jay's art has been shown in many important galleries. His work has been featured in major exhibits of Haida art. These shows took place in big cities like Vancouver, BC and Seattle, WA.

Notable Artworks and Recognition

One of Jay's most famous works was part of the Raven Travelling exhibition. This show happened at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 2006. It was the largest exhibition of Haida art in many years.

His art is also kept in the permanent collection of the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. This museum is located in Seattle, WA. A permanent collection means the museum owns his art forever.

The Olympic Piano

One of Jay's most special creations is a grand piano. He painted it with one of his unique designs. This piano was made especially for the Olympics. The paint used on the piano had a secret ingredient. It was mixed with dust from argillite stone found in Haida Gwaii. This made the piano a true piece of Haida culture.