Posts Tagged ‘alert bay’

Artist of the moment………..Rupert Scow

{ December 26, 2014 @ 12:35 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Rupert Scow was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada in the year 1957. Scow comes from a family tree full of artists including Mungo Martin. Scow represents the Kwakwaka’wakw of the First Nations Tribes.

The artist attended the Native Education College located Vancouver, British Columbia.

Scow works mainly as a carver of masks and totem poles. He has studied with many artists profiled here including Wayne Alfred.

What I enjoy most about this artist is his great use of color. Where as many masks seem to use the traditional black and red, Scows works stands out in a gallery with his great use of color and the unique and very expressive masks he produces. His characters have very individual expressions, its as if he has captured the spirit of someone rather than a likeness.

From the Museum of Anthropology a brief segment on the artist:

Price range information: Sorry none available.

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Artist of the moment…….Joe Wilson

{ November 4, 2014 @ 11:46 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Joe Wilson is a First Nations artist representing the Kwakwaka’ wakw people. Joe Wilson was born in Alert Bay, Canada in the year 1966.

The artist had loved to create since he was a young man and became inspired by taking a course from another First Nations artist named Douglas Cranmer. The course was a birthday present from his sister. Way to go sis!

Wilson was mentored by two other First Nations artist profiled here Wayne Alfred and Beau Dick.

Many of his masks are a combination of cedar and horse hair.

Price range information: sorry none available.

An added note, if you ever visit the Denver Art Museum be sure and check out the fifth floor where you can see many of the First Nations artists profiled here and also a few Inuit works.

Wilson has a knack for giving his masks a real sense of life. His printmaking skills show a wonderful sense of design and use of color. My favorite prints are the ones that include two First Nations symbols such as thunderbird and killer whale.

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Artist of the moment……..Beau Dick

{ August 30, 2014 @ 9:37 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Beau Dick is a fantastic First Nation’s Artist renown for his wonderful mask carvings. Beau Dick was born in Alert Bay, Vancouver Island, Canada in the year 1955. Dick represents the Kwakwaka’wakw Tribe of the First Nations of Canada.

 

In this clip we view a trailer from a documentary based on the artist:

Though many mask carvers are featured here, Dick is my favorite because of the emotional feeling he has infused into his art. Much of the First Nations masks are stoic, representing the heritage of their culture. Dick’s masks feature the same characters as other artists, but the characters are seen showing emotions of sorrow, distress, or happiness. This added element of life makes his work my favorite!

Price range information: Sorry none available.

The artist comes from yet another wonderful artistic family. His father, Ben Dick, was a renown carver. Ben has set the record for the largest ever carving producing a 173 totem pole to celebrate Canada’s centennial anniversary.

His grandfather James Dick was also a carver.

In this clip a gallery owner talks about this very artistic family:

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Artist of the moment……Marcus Alfred

{ July 23, 2014 @ 12:04 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Marcus Alfred is the son of renowned Five Nations artist Wayne Alfred. Marcus Alfred was born in Alert Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada in the year 1981.

Vancouver Island is a premiere art location in the Northwest. Due to its somewhat isolated location, it retains a close grip to its history through the sharing of cultural values and traditions.

Many of the artists featured here work with traditional items that have been made by people for centuries. Some of these items include rattles, headdresses, and totem poles. Its great to see a modern take on centuries old motifs.

Marcus Alfred has produced jewelry, headdresses, masks, and totem poles. Marcus Alfred enjoys creating works for use in ceremonial activities. Alfred represents the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation.

price range information: Works range from $1,000 to $10,000.

Be sure and check out my previous post on the artist’s father, Wayne Alfred. A wonderful carver!

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