George Rammell's “Chambers of Predetermined Outcomes: Gatekeepers of Justice”

Artist George Rammell and Protect the Planet's Christine Thuring with the sculptural work, "Chambers of Predetermined Outcomes: Gatekeepers of Justice."

Artist George Rammell was born in Cranbrook, BC. He studied at the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University of Art and Design) from 1971-75 and has been active as a sculptor and art instructor since 1975. He is currently immersed in a body of activist art in support of Indigenous nations who are opposed to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. His sculptural work "Chambers of Predetermined Outcomes: Gatekeepers of Justice" was unveiled on March 21, 2023. You can watch the event on YouTube and read some media coverage from Indiginews. 

From his artist statement: "In the late 1970's, following my art school years, my instructor Jack Harman recruited me to join his crew to cast bronze portrait busts of judges to embellish the hallways of Arthur Erickson's new Vancouver courthouse. Jack also created a small model of Themis, the Goddess of Justice for a competition to create a monumental sculpture under the main atrium. He won the commission. In the tradition of the British courts Jack modeled the goddess holding scales and blindfolded to symbolize the unbiased nature of the judiciary and its quest for truth. He decided to sculpt a scroll rather than a sword in her right hand. In my youthful naivety I believed his piece reflected the ethics of all modern judges, working philosophically and free of political influence. However, my experience with the courts over the past five years leads me to believe a more accurate portrayal would have the goddess peeking over her blindfold, looking for direction from the Prime Minister's office and the energy sector, her scales would be weighted to one side and her scroll would be engraved with Machiavellian injunction orders describing how to silence informed Indigenous elders and their allies."