New Studio Series Membership

MEET BEAU DICK - DECEMBER STUDIO VISIT

We have a second studio visit scheduled in December, we will visit Beau Dick on the 8th of December. 

Beau Dick is currently the artist in residence at the AHVA at UBC. 
Here is an interesting introduction to the man, the myth, the legend; the maker of monsters.

A carver who takes much of his inspiration and technique from traditional Kwakwaka’wakw art, Beau’s work has been particularly noted for its embrace of contemporary influences, often incorporating European and Asian styles into his creations. His masks in particular have been lauded for their rough yet realistic presentation, representing a piece that is both austere yet incredibly life-like. As the artist himself has put it:

“My style is sometimes referred to as “Potlatch Style” as it comes from a tradition of ceremony which requires many masks to be made in a short period of time. It takes many years of practice and an understanding of balance in order to create a work that is appears finished in a natural and instinctive manner, without seeming overthought.” 

Currently, Beau Dick’s work can be seen in the exhibitions, Witnesses: Art and Canada’s Indian Residential School at the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery on the UBC campus (until December 1, 2013) and The Voyage, or Three Years at Sea Part VI at the Charles H. Scott Gallery at Emily Carr University of Art and Design (until November 24, 2013).  

Beau Dick, acclaimed as one of the Northwest Coast’s most versatile and talented carvers, was born on Village Island, Kingcome Inlet, BC and lives and works in Alert Bay, BC. Reaching out beyond the confines of his own Kwakwaka’wakw culture, Dick has explored new formats and techniques in his work, including painting and drawing. His work can be found in private collections as well as museums, including the Canadian Museum of Civilization (Gatineau, QC), the Heard Museum (Phoenix, AZ), the Burke Museum (Seattle, WA), the UBC Museum of Anthropology and the Vancouver Art Gallery. Dick’s work has been exhibited most recently inSakahan: International Indigenous Art (2013) at the National Gallery of Canada, 75 Years of Collecting: First Nations: Myths and Realities (2006) at the Vancouver Art Gallery andSupernatural with Neil Campbell (2004) at the Contemporary Art Gallery (Vancouver). In 2012, Dick received the Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation’s VIVA Award for Visual Arts.

The Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory’s Artist in Residence program is supported by funding from the University of British Columbia’s First Nations Studies Department and the Faculty of Arts Dean’s Office.

UPCOMING: STUDIO VISIT WITH DANA CLAXTON

We are looking forward to kicking off the fall with a visit to Dana Claxton's Studio. Join us on September 8th. For more information visit the CASV Website.

Tatanka Wanbli Checkpa Wincincala, Twins Transform 4 of 5, 2006

C-print on archival paper, edition of 6, 30 x 40 in

Dana Claxton works in film, video, photography, single and multi channel video installation and performance art. Her practice investigates beauty, the body, the socio-political and the spiritual. Her work has been shown internationally at the Museum of Modern Art (NYC), Walker Art Centre, Sundance Film Festival, Eiteljorg Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art (Sydney, AU) and held in public collections including the Vancouver Art Gallery, National Gallery of Canada, Art Bank of Canada and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. She has received numerous awards including the VIVA Award and the Eiteljorg Fellowship.

Her work was selected for the 17th Biennale of Sydney Biennale (10), de Biennale Montréal (07), Biennale d’art contemporain du Havre, France (06), Micro Wave, Hong Kong (05) Art Star Biennale, Ottawa (05) and Wro 03 Media Arts Biennale Wroclaw Poland (03). She has created commissioned works for the University of Lethbridge Gallery, Alternator Gallery, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Urban Shaman, Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery and Tribe. She has presented talks at the Getty Institute (LA) and the Art College Association (USA) and the Opening Week Forum of the Biennale of Sydney. 
 


Claxton was born in Yorkton Saskatchewan and her family reserve is Lakota First Nations -Wood Mountain located in beautiful Southwest Saskatchewan.  Her paternal Euro-Canadian Grandmother taught her how to harvest and preserve food and her maternal Lakota grandmother taught her to seek justice. Dana is the youngest of four siblings, an auntie, niece, cousin and daughter.

Claxton is represented by Winsor Gallery in Vancouver.