Spring 2013 Newsletter

Our Spring 2013 Newsletter is now available online and in the gallery. Featured this season is Kwakwaka'wakw artist Richard Sumner, who is well-known for his beautifully made bentwood boxes. We also have new works by young Haida artists Jing (Rob Long) and Sgwaayaans (TJ Young), who are both apprenticing with renowned Haida artist Robert Davidson. Lastly, we are excited to announce a show featuring collaborative and individual pieces by Kwakwaka'wakw artists and brothers, Rod and Steve Smith. A reception will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2013 from 4pm-7pm to celebrate the opening and National Aboriginal Day- save the date!

Click here to read more from our Spring 2013 Newsletter.

Stories within Northwest Coast Art: Raven with Broken Beak

Gerry Marks, 14k Yellow Gold Ring, Raven with Broken Beak, 1/2" Width, Size 5 $1,100.00 CAD

Countless stories and legends describe Raven’s insatiable desire for the pleasures of life. This story is no different.

Having barely survived a severe beating by the Big Fisherman for accosting the man’s wife, Raven is thrown into the Pacific, weighed down with heavy stones. As he sinks to the bottom of the ocean, he quickly transforms into a sleek salmon and the stones slip from his body. As Raven nears the surface of the water in his new salmon form, everything suddenly turns dark…he has been swallowed whole by a speedy killerwhale. Once inside the fierce beast, Raven decides that it is best to return to his natural form so he is able to peck his way out of the whale’s stomach. He finally breaks through the stomach of the killerwhale and wastes no time in heading to the surface of the water for air.

As he rushes upwards for air, he spots some succulent kelp out of the corner of his eye. He impulsively bites into the kelp with his beak, but little does he know that the kelp contains a fishing hook. Raven struggles with the hook for a few minutes, but the halibut fishermen are strong and persistent. The fishermen combine forces above and pull hard on the line, tearing the top half of Raven’s beak clean from his face. He clings to the kelp, crying in agony as the fishermen examine their strange find.

After a few minutes, Raven flies up out of the water and follows the fishermen back to their camp. That night, after it had grown dark and the fishermen had gathered around the fire for dinner, Raven disguises himself (yet again) as an elderly man with a large spruceroot hat and approaches the men. The fishermen are passing around Raven’s beak and guessing where it came from when Raven himself approaches them. He asks if he can take a closer look at the object. At first, the fishermen are wary of this little man with the oversized hat and odd lisp. However, he appears small and feeble, so they pass the beak over to him.

At that, Raven fits the top part of his beak back into place, emerges from his disguise and flies upwards as the fishermen run away in fear. Raven then flies off in search of his next adventure…but not before he gorges himself on the fishermen’s halibut, which is piled near the shore.

In artwork, Raven with Broken Beak is often depicted as a human figure with part of a beak and feathers. We have a number of pieces in the gallery portraying this story including 14k yellow gold and sterling silver pendants by  Earl Muldon (Gitskan), a 14k yellow gold ring by Gerry Marks (Haida), an argillite pole by Tom Hans (Haida) and a limited edition print by Bill Reid (Haida).

Story adapted from “Raven Steals the Light” by Bill Reid and Robert Bringhurst, Douglas & McIntyre Ltd., 1984.

Contemporary Methods in Northwest Coast Native Art: Bronze Forton Casting

Ben Davidson, Bronze Forton Casting, Half of U #5/12, 10 3/4" x 21 1/2", $2,500.00 CAD

Haida artist Ben Davidson brings a new dimension to contemporary Northwest Coast art through his use of the Bronze Forton Casting technique.This type of casting is a method of cold bronze casting that uses a mixture of extremely fine bronze powder and Forton, a harder, denser and non-toxic version of industrial plaster. Upon hardening, the casting is removed from the mold and any imperfections are chased and cleaned. The result is a finished bronze surface that has the look, feel and weight of a traditionally cast bronze sculpture.

The three-dimensional appearance of the cast offers a unique alternative to wood sculpture and two-dimensional prints. The simplicity of the single blue color choice is non-traditional and also gives the sculpture a crisp, polished finish. This piece, titled Half of U, is numbered 5 of an edition of 12 and is available for $2,500.00 CAD.

Ben is the son of internationally renowned Haida artist Robert Davidson and is an original member of the Rainbow Creek Dancers, a traditional Haida dance group. His experience with dancing with this group as well as learning traditional Haida art from his father and uncle, Reg Davidson, has allowed him to continually explore the relationship between Haida art and culture.

Copper in Northwest Coast Native Art

Copper artwork and jewellery are becoming more common in the Northwest Coast market, which is a bit of a strange trend when considering that copper was the only metal quarried and processed by the First Nations in British Columbia prior to European contact. Long valued as a symbol of status and wealth, copper was frequently beaten into large panels, or shields, which were passed down from generation to generation. These shields were (and still are) aptly named "coppers". The bentwood box depicted in the image to the right, by Haida-Tsimshian artist Marie Oldfield, has been adorned with abalone cut-outs of these coppers. The box itself, titled Give Away, has also been embellished with copper paint and symbolizes the valued role of both boxes and copper in the Northwest Coast potlatch. This steam-bent box measures 6 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" and is available for $900.00 CAD.

 
A number of jewelers are also beginning to use copper more often. It is a soft metal, but this makes it slightly more challenging to engrave cleanly, when compared to sterling silver or gold. From cuff bracelets to earrings, Lattimer Gallery always strives to carry a selection of copper items to compliment our broad range of gold and silver pieces. The image to the left shows a pair of embossed copper dangle earrings by Haida artist, Gwaai Edenshaw. Measuring 2 5/8" long and 1/2" wide, these elegant Sinx earrings are available from Lattimer Gallery for $120.00 CAD. Copper is durable, warm in colour, and has been proven to carry certain health benefits.

Gwaai Edenshaw: Sounds Good on Paper

We featured Gwaai Edenshaw's newest jewellery line, Naxiin, in our Spring 2012 Newsletter. Currently this young Haida artist is having his first solo exhibition, Sounds Good on Paper, on display at Petley Jones Gallery. The show is composed of a variety of his framed sketches, in both black-and-white and color, as well as a paper cast sculpture and select pieces of gold cast jewellery. Also included in the exhibit are preliminary sketches of the totem pole he carved with his brother Jaalen, which is now on display in Jasper National Park, Alberta.

The exhibit will be on display until April 21, 2012.

Image: Gwaai Edenshaw, One Monster for Another.
Photo Credit: Rod Serrat-Cave, Petley Jones Gallery

Old Growth: Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas' Newest Publication

Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas is well known both for his political activism and his clever Haida graphic imagery. His most recent publication, Old Growth, chronicles over 30 years of his graphic works such as political cartoons and comics that re-tell the history of political negotiations and cultural conflict on the Northwest Coast. This book is comprehensive and includes copies of his older drawings as well as unpublished works that reflect on provocative topics of natural resource depletion and global climate change.

Currently in the gallery we have one of Michael's framed original watercolors depicting this politically-charged theme of forest clear-cutting. The piece measures 20 1/2" x 6" and is available for $2,000.00 CAD.

Isabel Rorick Spruce Root Rattle

Prominent Haida weaver Isabel Rorick has created a beautiful new yellow cedar and spruce root rattle adorned with eagle down, eagle feathers, and amethyst stones.

On the rattle, variations in stitching patterns symbolize the earth, and the sky. There are four rows of three-string twining which represent the sky, thunderbolt/lightning design representing power and below, there are three rows of skip-stitch which represents the earth. The three rings at the top of the rattle, which can be found on all of her pieces is her signature. Historically, rattles like this were used as a means of healing for young people.

This piece measures 7 1/2" x 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" and is available for $6,800.00 CAD.

Artist Spotlight: Jing (Rob Long)

You may already be familiar with the work of young Haida artist Jing (Rob Long), who has been apprenticing with renowned Haida artist Robert Davidson since 2009. He draws on the inspiration and knowledge gained from the designs of older pieces in books and museums, combined with his creativity, to form his own pieces.

Recently, he brought us an elegantly carved and painted red cedar Raven mask with an articulated beak and a beautiful yellow cedar Raven paddle. The clean lines and bold colors of Jing's pieces allow for a distinctive personal style.

The mask is available for $6,000.00 CAD and measures 10 1/4" x 8 3/4" x 26". The paddle is available for $1,100.00 CAD and measures 62" x 7 3/4" 1 1/4". Other works by Jing can also be found on our website.

Red Cedar Masks by TJ Young

Haida artist TJ Young was introduced to his cultural heritage and practices by his Grandfather Claude Morrison, who taught him how to carve halibut-hooks when he was just a teenager. Today, TJ has been carving large-scale totem poles and masks, two of which can currently be found in the gallery.

Above left is his newest red cedar portrait mask, entitled Northern Lights, with dimensions 15" x 9" x 7". The addition of birch bark and operculum shell complements the simplicity of the painted design and the grain of the wood. This mask can be viewed on our website and is available for $1,600.00 CAD.

To the right is TJ's red cedar mask Eagle Spirit, with dimensions 16" x 12" x 11". This piece is enhanced by mountain goat fur and painted copper overlays, and is available in the gallery for $1,800.00 CAD.

TJ is also a recent graduate of Vancouver's Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts Program where he studied engraving techniques under Kwakwaka'wakw artist Dan Wallace. A selection of TJ's oxidized sterling silver jewellery can also be found in the gallery. Come take a look at this young artist's creations!

Haida Show at the Art Gallery of Alberta

The Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton is currently displaying an exhibition of over 80 historical Haida objects and artworks. Titled 'Haida Art: Mapping an Ancient Language', this show is primarily comprised of pieces from the McCord Museum in Montreal. With works dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, the pieces include carved feast bowls, bentwood boxes, masks, rattles and argillite sculptures.

The curatorial team was guided by Haida artist Robert Davidson, whose contemporary works have been included in the exhibition to underscore the enduring relationship between the past and present. It is great to see art from the Northwest Coast being presented in areas outside of British Columbia. The show continues until June 5, 2011.

Gwaii Haanas Call to Artists

Gwaii Haanas Provincial Park and the Haida Gwaii Museum in Skidegate have just released a call to artists for a residency program this summer. Three artists will have the opportunity to be led through the remote Gwaii Haanas Park on a seven-day adventure, and then they will be asked to create works based on this unique experience. The works that are created will be featured at the Haida Gwaii Museum in the autumn of 2011.

Applications must be in by March 11, 2011 and details can be obtained from Jen Wilson. Artists are asked to submit images of at least five recent works, a detailed proposal of a possible piece to be completed for this project, and a general artist statement. Jen's phone number is 1-250-559-4643 and her email is jen.museum@skidegate.ca.

100th Blog Posting!

The Lattimer Gallery blog has been a great success since it was started over two years ago. As a casual way for us to tell our customers and fans about what is new at the gallery, it has acted as an informative supplement to our website.

We would like to use this entry to show you Marcel Russ' unusual argillite rings. He carved two for us recently: one is size 12, and one is size 6 1/2. Argillite isn't often used to create jewellery, but artists occasionally create pieces like this due to the popularity of this black stone. With designs of 'Salmon' and 'Orca with Salmon' these cocktail rings are sure to attract questions and compliments. They are affordable as well, at $300.00 each.

The argillite stone used by Haida carvers is a dark grey carbonaceous shale found at Slatechuck Creek on Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia. Argillite is a relatively soft stone to carve, although it is difficult to obtain large pieces from the quarries. It is also a very fragile stone. The supply of argillite is not in any apparent danger of being exhausted, and only the Haida people can carve it by British Columbian law.

Yay for our 100th posting!

Ernest Swanson 'Octopus' Pendant

Haida artist Ernest Swanson recently brought us an outstanding argillite pendant. Complete with detailed tentacles, abalone inlays and a sterling silver bezel-setting, this piece is a great example of Ern's recent work. This piece is unique because Ern has carved an Octopus figure out of argillite but has also engraved an Octopus figure on the back of the bezel. This piece is currently available for $2,400.00 CAD.

In 2009, Ernest graduated from the Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts Program, which was held at Vancouver's Native Education College. In addition to jewellery and argillite, Ern also carves wood and has worked with his cousin, celebrated Haida carver Jim Hart.

Robert Davidson Wins Audain Prize

This month, celebrated Haida artist Robert Davidson received the 2010 Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Visual Arts. In its seventh year, the Audain Prize provides each annual recipient with $30,000 and is designed to publicly acknowledge prominent artists living and working in British Columbia.

Having already received such prestigious awards as the Order of Canada and an Honourary Doctorate from the University of Victoria, this is yet another feather in the cap of this highly skilled, trailblazing Haida artist.