E’yies’lek Claude “Rocky” LaRock included in a two person exhibition at the Art Gallery at Evergreen. May 12 – July 17, 2022

The Art Gallery at Evergreen is proud to announce its presentation of Semá:th Xó:tsa: Sts’ólemeqwelh Sxó:tsa/Great Gramma’s Lake. In November 2021, extreme rains flooded extensive areas of the Fraser Valley, including what is today known as Sumas Prairie. This “once in a century” flooding has dramatically impacted the lives and livelihoods of many Fraser Valley residents, including Stó:lō master carver E’yies’lek Claude “Rocky” LaRock. Originally scheduled for a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery at Evergreen this spring, LaRock needed to prioritize his family and community as a result of the floods, requiring a creative re-envisioning of the exhibition plan. Revolving around LaRock’s powerful carvings, the Semá:th Xó:tsa exhibition also immerses visitors in a life-size rendering of the award-winning children’s book of the same title, co-authored by Kris Foulds, Laura Schneider, Thetáx Chris Silver and Xémontélót Carrielynn Victor, who also created the illustrations. Together, the works speak to the vital, enduring importance of Semá:th Xó:tsa (Sumas Lake) to the region’s past and present, and to the enduring strength and resilience of the Stó:lō people.