Veronica Rose Waechter
Gitxsan/German/Scottish/Welsh
1995-
@veronicasown
Veronica Rose is an artist of Gitxsan and mixed settler decent, she grew up mostly in Terrace, BC on unceded Ts’msyen territory. Her father was an artist who attended 'Ksan School in Gitanmaax from '98- 2000 so Gitxsan forms were the earliest visual art that she truly saw as a child, although her family was disconnected from the traditional culture. In 2014, Veronica began her studies at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art, where she learned from renowned Master Carvers Dempsey Bob, Stan Bevan, and Ken McNeil for two years. During that time she learned the invaluable skills of design, researching, tool making, relief carving, sculptural carving, inlay, and cedar weaving processes. She then transferred to Emily Carr University where she broadened her practice with new materials, concepts, and techniques, graduating in 2018 with a BFA. Veronica graduated with a Master's of Fine Arts degree from OCAD University (Tkaronto) in 2023, and has since been mentoring her niece Jade English (Gitxsan, Metis) in sculpture and design.
Her teachers in sculpture include her father Martin Waechter, as well as Master Carver Dempsey Bob, Stan Bevan, Ken McNeil, Chuck Ya'ya Heit, Gerry Sheena, and the trees & the salmon.
Her teachers in weaving include Vanessa Morgan, Donna Harris, and Val Morgan.
T'oyaxsii'n'ism to these gracious people for sharing their time and knowledge.
MFA Thesis "To Witness Laxyip: Continuous Gitxsan Material Practices" (2023):
https://openresearch.ocadu.ca/id/eprint/4096/1/Waechter_Veronica_2023_MFA_IAMD.pdf
Photo by Red Works Photography
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2023: Master's of Fine Arts, IAMD Program, Ontario College of Art and Design University, Toronto
2018-- 2020: Mentorship with Master Carver Dempsey Bob, Terrace
Class of 2018: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Emily Carr University, Vancouver
Class of 2016: First Nations Fine Arts Diploma, Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art, Northwest Community College, Terrace
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023: “To Witness Laxyip” MFA Thesis Exhibition, the Graduate Gallery, 205 Richmond, Toronto
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024: "Curve! Women Carvers of the Northwest Coast" Audain Art Museum, Whistler
2022: "GOOD HEART/CHĀNTÊ WÂSTÊ // IAMD 1st Year Exhibition: Part 2 of 2", the Great Hall at OCAD University, 100 McCaul, Toronto
2021: "A Celebration of Sculpture: The Sculptors’ Society of BC in Honour of Charles Marega" Il Museo, Italian Cultural Centre, Vancouver
2021: “UNYA’s Annual Charity Bentwood Box Auction”, Lattimer Gallery, Vancouver
2021:"Return to Ksan: the Art of the Gitxsan Waechter Family", Misty Rivers Arts Centre, Gitanmaax
2020: “UNYA’s Annual Charity Bentwood Box Auction”, Lattimer Gallery, Vancouver
2020: “Personal + Material Geographies”, il museo, Italian Cultural Centre, Vancouver
2019: “UNYA’s Annual Charity Bentwood Box Auction”, Lattimer Gallery, Vancouver
2019: “Without Borders” Terrace Art Gallery, Terrace
2019: “Skeena Salmon Art Show”, Terrace Art Gallery, Terrace
2019: “qaʔ yəxw - water honors us: womxn and waterways”, Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, Vancouver
2018: “UNYA’s Annual Charity Bentwood Box Auction”, Lattimer Gallery, Vancouver
2018: “Local Threads: Relearning, Reciprocity, and Reconnection on Salish Land and Sea” in association with EartHand Gleaners Society, Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, Vancouver
2018: “The Show”, Emily Carr Annual Graduate Student Show, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Great Northern Way Campus, Vancouver
2018: “Sháman̓stut”, Annual Aboriginal Student Exhibition, Michael O’Brien Exhibition Commons, Emily Carr University, Great Northern Way Campus, Vancouver (Artist and Curator)
2017: “UNYA’s Annual Charity Bentwood Box Auction”, Lattimer Gallery, Vancouver
2017: “Northern Exposure 2017- 10 Year Anniversary Show”, Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver
2017: “Reforming”, Annual Aboriginal Student Exhibition, Concourse Gallery, Emily Carr University, Vancouver
2017: “What Remains”, Concourse Gallery, Emily Carr University, Granville Island, Vancouver
2016: “Poets for the Peace”, Concourse Gallery, Emily Carr University, Granville Island, Vancouver
2016: “Northern Exposure 2016”, Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver
2016: “Arts of the North”, Waap Galts’ap, Northwest Community College, Terrace
2016: “Student Art Exhibition”, Kitimat Museum & Archives, Kitimat
2016: “Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art Exhibition”, Terrace Art Gallery, Terrace
2015: “Freda Diesing Alumni Show”, Smithers Art Gallery, Smithers
2015: “Northern Exposure 2015”, Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver
PUBLIC WORK
2021: "Mountain Perspective" yellow cedar panel, Coast Mountain College, Terrace (commission)
2021: "Searching for the Light" yellow cedar panel, Coast Mountain College, Terrace (bought)
2019: “Journey to the Skeena” Mural Collaboration with Stephanie Anderson, Canada Post Office, Terrace (Ts’msyen Territory)
2018: “Water Protector Pole” 16’ Totem Pole Project for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Watch House, done alongside Gerry Sheena, Burnaby (Tsleil-Waututh Territory)
2018: “Ancient Cedars Journey Home” 20’ Totem Pole Project for the Collingwood Neighborhood House Annex Building, with Gerry Sheena, Vancouver (Tsleil-Waututh Territory)
SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS, & GRANTS
2024: First Peoples Cultural Council Individual Artist Grants
2023: OCAD University Graduate Honourable Mention Award
2021: Indspire Delaney Award for OCADU Students
2021: OCAD University Graduate Studies Deans Scholarship Award
2021: First Peoples Cultural Council Individual Artist Grant
2018: YVR Art Foundation Youth Scholarship Award, mentorship with Dempsey Bob
2017: YVR Art Foundation Youth Scholarship Award, while attending Emily Carr University