Vanessa Dion Fletcher: Kaakaapushak Butterflies

 Kaakaapushak Butterflies is a contemporary quillwork on paper. Quill work holds deep cultural significance for the Lunaapeew, serving as a form of artistic expression, a connection to the animal world and a means of conveying meaning through intricate, symbolic designs. To create these works, Vanessa Dion Fletcher uses porcupine quills and dyes them with both natural and synthetic colours. Then, she carefully chooses each quill based on its colour, shape, and size, and threads them onto paper. As the quills accumulate, they form abstract shapes and lines that can be interpreted in various ways.