A–List

Even before I knew who he was, Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas stood out in a crowd. This was at an Anthropology Museum reception in Vancouver last November.

It wasn't hard to guess that he was an artist of some kind because of how he looked. He was wearing funky eye-glasses, his light blond hair had a stylish cut and he was wearing a fun print shirt. But when he told me he was Haida, I realized that I had had a fixed image of how Haida people or any other First Nation people should look. He did not fit my image at all.

Yahgulanaas told me that he does 'Haida manga art' -- "manga" being Japanese comics. Although manga has become a popular art in recent years, it was originally developed in late 19th-century Japan, and was a form of story-telling in the style of comics.

Photographer Rick Legal has almost exclusively photographed nudes in recent months.The shy photographer somehow has no problem finding bold models comfortable with being seen with no clothes on.

Legal has a unique point of view which sets his nude photographs apart from those of many other photographers. His approach to subjects is direct. His photographs are stark, but intimate. They are not necessarily pretty, but almost always erotic.

Legal's models are not just passive pretty faces or bodies exploited by male perspectives on what a woman's body should look like. They seem to be not only comfortable in their nudity, but also confident with their own bodies. They appear to enjoy being seen and photographed.

I have seen many pieces of Wayne Ngan's work, but only met him once or twice.  He had been on my list of people whom I wanted to photograph for many years.  I finally had the chance last week.

If his works are reflection of who he is, he is in tune with nature and his inner self.  Regardless of its size and shape, his pottery has perfect proportions that are  pleasing to a viewer's eye.  When I hold one, it gives me a sense of satisfaction.  The weight is what I would expect to feel:not too heavy, but not too light either.  Because it is made by hand, it fits into your hands.

 To my surprise, he was quite talkative.  During the photography session, which lasted a little less than one hour, he repeatedly said that what was most important to him was to explore his potential as an artist for the time left to him in this world, which he assumed would be about ten years.

I met Yayoi Hirano through a mutual friend three years ago here in Vancouver.  At our first meeting we discovered that we went to the same high school in Japan, and became friends right away.

Yayoi has been a mime artist all her life and has an impressive track record before she came to this country eight years ago. Shortly after she got married and settled here, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It slowed down her professional activity for a while.  As soon as she recovered well enough to perform, Yayoi was right back into her creative world.