Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Formal Education and Professional Development
I have a combination of formal and informal educational training in the arts. My best training was when I spent time with Freda Diesing and Dempsey Bob. This is where I got the foundation that I needed to expand on developing my own personal style. I continue to stand on that foundation and have made it stronger through my work.
1972 Attended workshops presented by Freda Diesing and Dempsey Bob, Prince Rupert, BC.
1973 Continued on for the next three years in a one-on-one apprenticeship with Dempsey Bob, Tahltan/Tlingit artist at his home.
1984 Completed Basic Silversmithing Course at Vancouver Vocational Institute, Vancouver, BC. I used this basic silversmithing knowledge and combined it with my traditional Northwest Coast design to engraved jewelery in silver and gold.
Group Exhibitions:
1976 “Art of the Salmon People” – Prince Rupert, BC
“Indian Women Art Show – Prince Rupert, BC
1985 “Robes of Power: Totem Poles on Cloth” – Adelaide, Australia
1986 “Robes of Power: Totem Poles on Cloth” – University of British Columbia, MOA
1991 Canada Festival Days – Hongkong: featured a “living artist exhibit” which consisted of carving an 8 food totem pole on display for thousands of visitors with my brother Terrance. Five week demonstration for 12 hours a day.
1992 “Spirit of Women in Northwest Coast Art Show” – Granville Native Art Gallery: Shaman Woman Mask
1993 “First Nations Artists: Women of the Northwest Coast” – UBC Museum of Anthropology: Bracelet purchased for their permanent collection.
1994 “Spirit Faces: Contemporary Masks of the Northwest Coast” – Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC:McCleans Magazine covered this exhibit including pictures of my work
1999 “Vision Keepers” – Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC – All Women’s Art Show
2001 “Spirits Transform” – Coastal Peoples Fine Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2002 “Storytellers: Oral Traditions of the Northwest Coast” – Coastal Peoples Fine Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2003 “Beyond the Grain” – Coastal Peoples Fine Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2004 “Box of Treasures” – Coastal Peoples Fine Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2012 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, Phoenix, Ariz.
– 2nd place for “Eagle Dance” glass piece
– Honorable Mention for Volcano Woman’s Mask
2013 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, Phoenix, Ariz.
– 1st place for “Crying for Medicine” frontlet in the wood-carving division.
2016 SWAIA (Southwestern Association for Indian Arts) Indian Market, Santa Fe, NM
– 1st place for “Woman Taken by the Frog People” rattle in Diverse Art Forms Division; Rattles and Fans
– 1st place for “Crying for Medicine” frontlet in Diverse Art Forms; Powwow Dance Gear, individual Objects or Sets
– 2nd place for “Eagle” frontlet in Diverse Art Forms; Powwow Dance Gear, individual Objects or Sets
2016 “A View From Here” – Ralph T. Coe Foundation, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2017 SWAIA (Southwestern Association for Indian Arts) Indian Market, Santa Fe, NM
– 1st place for “Eagle Harvesting the Salmon” paddle in Diverse Art Forms
2019 SWAIA (Southwestern Association for Indian Arts) Indian Market, Santa Fe, NM
– 2nd place for “Woman Stolen by the Shark People” paddle in Diverse Art Forms
2021 “Hands of Knowledge” – Bill Reid Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2022 “Hands of Knowledge” – Museum of Northern BC, Prince Rupert, BC
Public Collection:
Carved Silver Bracelet: Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia
Shark and Killer whale Frontlet: Burke Museum in Los Angles, California
Totem Pole (30 feet): Kowloon Park – Hong Kong: Public Art Installation
Commissioned Works:
1980 Wolf and Crow Mural: Tahltan Band Office, Chief Ivan Quock, Telegraph Creek, BC
1984 Eagle Mask: Leona Latimer Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1993 Eagle Warrior Mask: Dr. Chodosh, New york, New York
1995 Eagle Mask: Pierre Rattay, Prince Rupert, BC
1996 Shark Mask: Steve Nasby, Prince Rupert, BC
2016 Wolf and Bear moon mask: Jeff Brown, Prince Rupert, BC
2020 Sun mask with four crests: Jeff Brown, Prince Rupert, BC
I have been commissioned to create many pieces in gold and silver over the past 30 years.
Presentations and publications:
1984 “Indian Artists at Work” by Ulli Steltzer
1985 “Robes of Power” by Doreen Jensen and Polly Sargent
1990 “Totem Poles” by Hilary Stewart
1994 McCleans Magazine: article featured the show “Spirit Faces”
2003 “American Indian Jewelery 1”, by Gregory Schaaf, assisted by Angie Yah Shaaf
2012 “American Indian Jewelery 2”, by Gregory Schaaf, assisted by Angie Yah Shaaf
2013 “In the Spirit of the Ancestors”, by Bill Holm Center for the Study of Northwest Coast Art. Edited by Robin K. Wright and Kathryn Bunn-Marcuse
Awards:
2013 British Columbia Creative Achievement Award for First Nations’ Art
Teaching Experience:
I have continued the traditional teaching ways of my people as I was taught by my teachers. I share my traditional knowledge and techniques in carving and toolmaking to assist the up-and-coming artists in my community and pass on some of the stories to Tahltan artists.
You are a fascinating person, who should be very proud. The best of luck to you!