Our natural surroundings form us, influencing all life. Our shelter and food, our economy and habits, what constitutes a winter coat, our art, and even our psychology is moulded over time by climate, topography, and landscape.
Sabina Hill has grown up under the influence of the Pacific Northwest. Her family has lived on the West Coast for four generations, and it would be fair to say that our forests, seascapes, wildlife, and the echoes of the earliest cultures have gotten under her skin, into her studio, home, and design practice.
In collaboration with celebrated Indigenous artists like Andy Everson, Mark Preston, and Steve Smith, Hill produces unique and beautiful items of design, decor, furnishings, and artwork. She is excited about exploring and developing a convergence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous culture, art, and design that is a theme in her work.
“I feel the work is imbued with a spirit of place. It speaks to this beautiful region where it is conceived and produced, showcasing a shared Pacific Northwest culture.”
Hill, with her collaborators, has had many commissions from both public and private clients. Her work is collected all over Canada and in faraway places, including Mexico, Belgium, and England. In a particularly notable instance, Global Affairs Canada commissioned her to design a ceremonial sign-in table for the entryway to the newly refurbished Canada House in iconic Trafalgar Square, London. Increasingly, her work is sought for its spare, contemporary beauty, its high-quality materials, and for the synergy it represents.
“I think my creative collaborations with First Nations artists demonstrate a powerful and poignant legacy of cooperation between cultures,”
she remarks.
Hill’s collaborators are highly successful artists. At a time when non-Indigenous artists of all kinds are stepping back and trying to envision a way forward in their work that is sensitive to growing post-colonial sensibilities, Hill boldly collaborates and promotes the hybrid aesthetic about which she is so passionate.
One of her past collaborators is Steve Smith (dla’ kwagila). His work has been featured in several major exhibitions throughout North America. His pieces include original paintings, sculptures, masks, limited edition prints, totem poles, and drums. Maybe you’ve seen his large, arresting installations at the Vancouver Airport. How does it feel for him to have his work in more intimate settings, in people’s homes? His gracious answer will resonate for artists of every kind, “Creating artwork is so deeply gratifying, and I feel that it is a gift for me to share with the world.”
Ultimately for Hill, it is about the undeniable aspects of “place” and the ways in which they affect all inhabitants.
“Fully integrating Indigenous motifs into my designs allows me to create a distinctly regional aesthetic that reflects the environment I grew up in and love. By converging two distinct design cultures I am able to celebrate the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest in a unique and personal way.”
With this in mind, Hill has created an immersive environment in Pender Harbour, where she lives, works, displays, and hosts. Her live-in gallery, studio, and guest suite are fine examples of her bold contemporary style, coupled with strong notions of practicality, comfort, and luxury. Into all this she integrates Indigenous motifs of the Pacific Northwest, giving guests a chance to live with her work and style. A guest’s comment says it all.
“A visit to Madeira Park and my stay in the Sea Forest Guest suite was a quintessential West Coast experience. Staying in a unique architectural creation resting on a waterfront slope, there are water and nature views from every room. Sabina Hill’s art and design in furniture, wall hangings and original art create a feeling of peace and a connection to the history of the Coast. No attention to detail is spared to make your stay unforgettable. Peace. Nature. Beauty.”
