UNITY— Artist Chris Chipak has seen one of his concepts turn into reality. After posting his version of the Huskie Athletics logo on social media, many Indigenous Huskie student-athletes resonated with the imagery and symbolism and chose the image to be used as a logo for the University of Saskatchewan's Week of Reflection, Sept. 25 to 30.
Chipak, who was raised in the Red Pheasant First Nation until he was 17 years old, is a self-taught artist. He learned art through colouring books and slowly graduated to creating his own images, having an eye for shapes and thick black lines. As a youth, Chipak was able to watch wildlife from his front yard and used what he had learned of the animal teachings to help others understand life experiences and values.
The artist graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Education, and this project was important to him. Chipak spoke about his struggles in university, and the culture shock he experienced after living on a reservation.
“The adjustment was tough, but I was determined to do it not for myself but my community,” he says.
He says he wanted to create a visual that represents community and connects us all to one another.
“Something that makes us proud of who we are, where we come from and where we are going.”
The new logo was unveiled during the USask Week of Reflection and will be worn by all Huskie Athletics student-athletes, coaches, and support staff during the weekend of Sept. 30.
Over the past few years, Chipak has designed artwork as a hobby, however, has been commissioned for work with Team Sask NAIG, Polaris Music Prize and Crave TV. Aside from teaching, he focuses on his art and the new chapter in his life of starting a family.
