A select group of Indigenous artists from coast to coast are carving their history onto a wearable canvas that will get more eyes on it.
AYA Optical, the philanthropic eyewear brand founded by North Vancouver resident Carla D’Angelo, is launching a new collection this month that will feature designs by more Indigenous artists.
“AYA is a celebration of Indigenous Art, through collaborations that look to the past and future,” said D’Angelo in a press release.
“I work together with Indigenous artists with the goal of making their work less obscure by bringing their art and stories to a wider audience via our eyewear. It’s a small but important act of reconciliation.”
The collection features a new collaboration with Navajo master weaver Kathy Marianito, along with new styles from acclaimed Ojibwe artist Donald Chrétien and one new style from Kwakwaka’wakw/Tlingit artist Corrine Hunt.
Marianito’s design, “Aspen,” drew inspiration from her memory of a colourful third-phase chief’s blanket her great-great grandfather owned. Aspen is available in a sleek matte burgundy or a staple color matte black.
Chrétien’s unique style springs from his combined passion for colour and woodland-style expression. His work has been notable in stories recounting First Nations’ experiences in residential schools.
One of Chrétien’s new styles, called Turtle Island, incorporates an Ojibwe turtle design onto a classic AYA frame.
Hunt, who was AYA’s first artist collaboration, has now created a style called Celeste, featuring a raven and eagle design.
All the styles in the new collection range from $169 to $175, with partial proceeds from the sale of all AYA eyewear and accessory items donated to the ONEXONE First Nations nutritious breakfast program. Since 2003 more than 700,000 meals have been served to children who would otherwise have gone without a nourishing breakfast.
AYA eyewear is available on the North Shore at Giftworks, Pizazz Gifts and Hollyburn Optical, and online at claudiaalan.com.
