Northwest Coast Native Panels

Large carved panels are a staple within the Northwest Coast Native art market, but they are a contemporary art form. Bentwood boxes, poles, and masks have long been created for both cultural and artistic purposes, but decorative panels only began emerging in the 1990s. One explanation for this development lies in the fact that paintings on paper and canvas, which are pervasive in conventional art galleries, are not common within the Northwest Coast market. Carved and painted panels are a fusion of traditions: wall-mounted compositions created through carving. From the traditional to the bright and modern, Lattimer Gallery has several outstanding panels right now:

Heiltsuk artist Dean Hunt’s Hzí (Frog) Bounce is a playful 36” diameter panel comprised of light and dark greens. Representing a frog in motion, the figure appears as though it could hop right out of the wood due to the depth Dean achieved by dropping all of the negative space down by ½”. This animated sculpture is available for $6,000.00 CAD.

Tsimshian/Cree artist Phil Gray’s rectangular red cedar panel depicting two killerwhales is titled Gestation and measures  48” x 24” x 1 ¾”. Representing a mother orca and newborn orca, this deeply-carved panel contains a great amount of movement and tension. Two human figures can also be seen within this clever composition. Phil’s panel is available for $8,000.00 CAD.

Haida artist Corey Bulpitt has carved a red cedar panel titled Skaana (Killerwhale) that strongly demonstrates his tendency to create designs that extend beyond strict formline composition. This piece contains all of the classic elements of a whale design in plain oiled cedar – the head, blowhole, tail flukes – yet the dorsal fin has been superimposed across the entire composition in black and red paint. Corey’s 36” round panel is available for $6,000.00 CAD.     

Kwakwaka’wakw artist Rande Cook’s Thunderbird panel contains elegant lines and fluid forms. The details within this 36” diameter panel are delightful. From the knife-finished bevelled edge to the carefully domed ovoids, this piece demonstrates Rande’s talent as both a carver and designer. Unlike many representations of the mythical Thunderbird, Rande’s appears serene with its closed beak, small horns, and tucked talon. Rande’s panel is available for $6,000.00 CAD.

Phil Gray Bear Mother Pole

Lattimer Gallery has always prided itself on great customer service. So, when American clients of ours purchased Tsimshian/Cree artist Phil Gray's seven-foot Bear Mother totem pole in early January - and requested that we help deliver it and install it - we were happy to oblige.

The first step involved lowering the pole and preparing it for shipping here in the gallery. We wrapped it with moving blankets and got our dolly ready. The second step was loading the pole and driving across the border. The final step was unloading the pole, carefully carrying it into the client's home, and then installing it. This beautiful pole looked perfect in the space provided, just like it was meant to be there! 

This sculptural pole depicts the Bear Mother legend from Northwest Coast Native mythology. There are various versions of this story, but a common telling can be found here:

There are many variations of the Bear Mother story. One such story tells of a young woman who is berry picking in the forest with friends, when she accidentally steps into a pile of bear dung. Reacting in disgust, she makes a rude comment about bears. The bears overhear and resent this insulting remark. The woman keeps stopping to repair the broken strap of her berry-picking basket and is separated from her friends. Two young men, actually a bear prince and his companion, offer to escort the woman out of the forest. Instead, they take her to their family's home where she is made welcome. In time, she marries the bear prince and gives birth to two cubs. Her human family, however, have never stopped searching for her. Each of her four brothers tries in turn to save her. The youngest brother finally succeeds in killing her husband. The woman and her two sons, now transformed into their human form, return to the village. Many First Nations people from the West Coast who hold Bear as their crest symbol connect their lineage to this myth, which warns against impetuousness.

Bear Mother Pole at Gallery

Phil Gray began carving in 1999 with Salish artist, Gerry Sheena. He also had the opportunity to study Advanced Design under acclaimed Haida artist, Robert Davidson. Phil works primarily in cedar, alder and boxwood. He creates masks, panels, poles, sculptures and drums. Phil belongs to the Killerwhale Clan and the majority of his works are created in his traditional Tsimshian style. In September of 2003, Phil had three of his pieces donated to the Burke Museum in Seattle. In 2005, Phil was featured in the 'Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation 2' exhibit at the Museum of Art and Design in New York. In the winter of 2007, Phil completed a large commission of sculptural works for Sonora Resort on Sonora Island, BC. Also in 2007, Phil completed the Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts Program at the Native Education College in Vancouver, under Kwakwaka’wakw/ Haida artist, Dan Wallace. Phil was included in two major exhibitions in 2009. The first was the 'Challenging Traditions' exhibition at Ontario's McMichael Gallery, a show that was dedicated to exploring innovative and experimental works from the Northwest Coast. The second was 'Continuum: Vision and Creativity on the Northwest Coast' at Vancouver's Bill Reid Gallery, which highlighted 23 established Aboriginal artists from BC, Washington State and Alaska. In September of 2009, Phil completed a pair of large red cedar doors here in Lattimer Gallery, which depicted a 'Grandmother Moon' design. In February of 2010, Phil designed the helmet of gold medal-winning Skeleton racer, Jon Montgomery. Montgomery held Phil's helmet throughout the Olympic awards ceremony. In 2014, Phil was awarded a BC Creative Achievement Award in Aboriginal Art from the Government of British Columbia.

Phil Gray 'Shaman and His Helper' Mask

There is a long tradition of shaman-themed art within the Northwest Coast market. Regalia and functional objects associated with shamanism and the acts of healing and spiritual mediating have long existed within cultures along the West Coast, and current artworks created for the market are based on traditional practices. From sculptural soulcatchers (tubular implements used to suck sickness from a patient) to embellished rattles (used to ward off evil spirits), many items associated with shamanism appear as non-functional artworks, as a sort of homage to deep-seated rituals and ceremonies. 

Phil Gray's Shaman and His Helper Mask

Tsimshian/Cree artist Phil Gray recently brought us an exceptional red cedar mask titled Shaman and His Helper. At first glance, this may appear to be a humanoid or supernatural figure of some kind. In fact, this mask represents a shaman and octopus transformation. The octopus is associated with shamanism due to its ability to change shape and colour. The octopus is also a crest within the Tsimshian Eagle clan. The nose of the shaman has metamorphosed into the beak of an octopus, and an allusion to the octopus' tentacles can be seen in the four textured spirals on the sides of the mask. The division that Phil has created between the smooth human elements of the mask and the carefully textured octopus elements of the mask is truly remarkable. This minute attention to detail is one of the reasons Phil's work is always in such high demand.

The Textured Areas Represent the Octopus Helper

This mask measures 16" x 12" x 8 1/2" and is available for $3,400.00 CAD. Phil also accepts custom orders through Lattimer Gallery.

  

Philip Gray (Tsimshian/Cree) Red Cedar Panels

Philip Gray, Red Cedar Panels, 60" x 96", Bear, Frog, Moon

Tsimshian/Cree artist Philip Gray is known for his clean lines and flowing designs, and these custom ordered red cedar triptych panels are no exception. From left to right, the set of panels depicts deeply carved Bear, Moon, Dragonfly and Frog designs enclosed by a thick border. The flow of the design is momentarily interrupted by the negative spaces in between each panel, creating a visual effect that requires the viewer to piece together the full design. Each panel measures 60” x 30”: the sheer size of these beautiful panels is enough to leave you in awe.

Close up: Bear (Panel 1)

Close Up: Dragonfly (Panel 2)

Close Up: Frog (Panel 3)

Charity Bentwood Boxes - Nov 27th to Dec 10th

For the past four years, Lattimer Gallery has organized events over the holiday season to help support various charities.

This year, we will be holding a silent auction featuring a wide range of bentwood boxes. All of the work in the creation of these small cedar boxes will be donated: the boxes will be steam-bent and donated by Metis/Cree artist James Michels; the promotion and collected funds will be donated by Lattimer Gallery; and the artwork will be donated by the artists. Lattimer Gallery is working with Vancouver Aboriginal Health, which supports children and families at BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre. The goal of this program is to improve the quality of hospital experiences for Aboriginal patients and their families.

We will be selling the boxes by silent auction, and we will start uploading the boxes to our website in late November. We will update current selling prices on the website as well, and bids can be placed in person, via email, or by phone.

Phil Gray Doors

Tsimshian/Cree artist, Phil Gray, has been working on a set of large red cedar doors here at the gallery for the past three weeks. We have facilitated several major projects involving Phil’s work; however, this will be Phil's first door commission. These double doors will be based upon a Grandmother Moon theme – she is often seen as a guardian spirit. Phil’s sophisticated design will incorporate the maternal protector with Raven and the Light legend. They will be going to a custom home on Saltspring Island.

Phil will likely be here until mid-September, so drop by and take a look if you are in the neighbourhood.