Posts Tagged ‘Vancouver Island’

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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Artist of the moment…….Mona Ohoveluk

{ June 11, 2013 @ 12:38 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Mona Ohoveluk was a wonderful Inuit printmaker with a great sense of design. Ohoveluk was born in 1935 at Rymer Point, Vancouver Island, Canada.

Her grandfather was a Danish Trader who moved to Canada to experience the lifestyle of the Inuit peoples.

She was most popular in the annual print editions in the 1960s and 1970s.

Price range information: Most prints are priced from $250 to $1,000. From time to time you might find a tablecloth or placemat series available featuring the artist.

That is all the information I could find on the artist. For some artistic fun how about comparing the compositions and designs used by this artist and another artist featured recently, Tim Stoner. Both excel in making art with multiple figures. Ohoveluk’s linework is great because you get the feeling of movement and space without using a horizon line.

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Artist of the moment…..Joe David

{ May 9, 2013 @ 10:32 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Joe David is an artist renown for his work with masks. David was born in Opitsat, British Columbia in the year 1946. David is a painter, carver, and sculptor. In the mid 1950s his family moved to Seatte, Washington. His grandmother predicted he would be an artist whilst David was still an infant.
His father was an artist and Joe David was given his fathers native name which was loosely translated as Super natural white wolf trasforming into a killer whale.

In this clip we visit Joe David working as an artist in residence and with glass as a medium. Also some traditional masks are shown.

What is most fascinating with Joe David is his drive to learn about native peoples all over the world. David has participated in Maori rituals in New Zealand. The artist also has done ceremonies held in Big Mountain, Arizona.
With his abilities spread out among so many mediums including painting, carving, sculpting, and glass Joe David’s work is in high demand from private and public collectors and also museums.
Known for what he calls ‘sacred bling,’ The smaller cultural carvings produced by the artist.
Price range information: The most expensive works are his collaborative works with glass master Preston Singletary which reach $20,000.