Lugwut & Water People of the Shore (2023 & 2024)
Lugwut was the final element of a larger mural called, Water People of the Shore painted in the Costal Salish tradition. Standing at the entrance to the TJ Potter Alley, (400 Block of Capitol Way South, Olympia, Washington)
Lugwut is a figure from Salish tribal tradition that is similar to Big Foot or Sasquatch. Nisqually artists Kyle Sanchez and his family along with Christopher Gerber created a new mural in the TJ Potter Alley Downtown (400 Block of Capitol Way South). The mural features a natural waterfront scene as a background of sky, land and sea. The foreground features a wide range of aquatic and shoreline animals of the Salish Sea depicted in a Coastal Salish style with creatures with a statement in Lushootseed above the water. All figures were painted in the Coastal Salish tradition using black, red and white. The animals were designed by Nisqually tribal artist Kyle Sanchez who then coordinated a mural crew, to be composed of tribal youth from both the Nisqually youth program as part of a mural paid apprenticeship project.