|
These paintings are from a series based on artifacts, created by Northwest coast Native master carvers of the 19th and 20th centuries. ThOse fine, old masks sit in museum collections throughout the world, catalogued by tribal name only, the identity of the artists largely unknown.
Having seen and touched many of those masks during the course of my research, I wanted to do a collaboration of sorts, loosely basing a series of canvas paintings on those early masterpieces. This is my way of honoring those unknown masters and exposing their work to a contemporary audience.
These artists, were from a variety of tribes, including: the Kwakiutl, Haida and Salish. Though we may never know their names, this does not diminish their creative achievement. |
