Projects > Public and Private Art > Sacred Belongings

“Bentwood Boxes are amongst the most ingenious and versatile objects made by Northwest Coast Native peoples.”

“My design, Sacred Belongings, is a new, original design specifically for the Keltic Sussex development that interacts with each other to develop a broad band of artwork for the community. I use all design elements from Coast Salish iconography in a storybook form of all the things we keep sacred. These artworks are unmistakably First Nations, but utilize modern technique and impression carrying forward tradition into the 21st century and beyond. “

“This design’s imagery accounts for the flow and rhythm of the overall art piece reflecting on the site’s history, the continued change, and the natural area itself. I also considered that encountering the design from different perspectives is meant to give the viewer an easy flow to absorb at a glance.” ~Thomas Cannell

Artist: Thomas Cannell
Client: Keltic Canada Development
Materials: Basalt Boulder pedestals, V-Carve bronze with patinated black/brown, clear acrylics plastic with white vinyl diffuser, and waterproof LEDs
Location: 6620 Sussex Avenue, Burnaby, BC
Installation Date: May 2026