.As a Haida artist, I live on the edge of the knife; walking a fine line, which allows me to create simultaneously in both the traditional and contemporary styles. Learning from the past masters allows me to explore and innovate to now survive in this modern age.
Over the years I have been steeped in the traditional methods of carving, painting, printmaking, and toolmaking. I have worked with some very well-known artists, who have all helped hone my craft. The skills and techniques that I now use in my creations are becoming more widely accepted in the creation of Haida art. For me to think I have done this on my own, would be foolish, my works in contemporary mediums relate directly back to my Haida ancestry, all the while knowing my work is part of a larger picture that is ever changing.
My artistic education and training in Haida Art began in 1975 from the inspiration of my uncle, Glen Cook's argillite and wood carvings. In 1988, I worked with Haida Master Artist Warren Peele on flat design. I later met Haida Master Artist Robert Davidson, which lead me to an apprenticeship with Steven C. Brown, the Seattle Art Museum
Curator of Northwest Coast Art. From 1994-95, I attended Northwest Indian College and pursued a degree in Native American Studies and art,
focusing on screen-printing and
sculpture. I also earned a degree from The Evergreen State College in Native American Studies focusing on
graphic and sculpture in 1997. To this day, my education continues, having taken classes from Master Artists to learn techniques in mask making, tool making, and jewelry making, as well as carving techniques and model canoe design, just to name a few.
Some of my many exhibitions include a showing at the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center with the Northern Arapaho Artist Society and the National Geographic Society involving the Greatest Photographs of the West and a series of carvings and paintings in 2016. In 2015, I was featured in the Resurgence: Rivers of the Pacific Northwest at the Stonington Gallery in Seattle, Washington. Also in 2015 I was featured in a Native Art Show with the Northern Arapaho Artist Society at the Rock Springs Fine Art Center in Rock Springs, Wyoming. For a more detailed account of my education and experience, please see my Complete CV, which can be found in the drop down below the About The Artist tab above.
My art business has been designated as a "Trusted Art Seller" with The Art Storefronts Organization, which means you can shop with confidence, and know that I stand behind the quality and value of my products.