SHI LECTURE TO EXPLORE EVOLUTION OF NORTHWEST COAST ART
Renowned Haida artist Robert Davidson to discuss old masters, renaissance of Haida art
Sept. 25, 2024
Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will sponsor a lecture tomorrow as part of its ongoing fall series, featuring prominent voices in Indigenous knowledge, art and culture, wildlife conservation and science.
The event will spotlight Robert Davidson, one of Canada’s most esteemed contemporary artists and a master carver of totem poles and masks. In his lecture, “Creating Spaces,” Davidson will reflect on the art of the old masters of the Northwest Coast, sharing insights into how they achieved balance and harmony through intuitive creation. He will also explore how the traditional Haida art form has evolved over generations while maintaining its integrity.
Davidson has spent more than 40 years as an artist and cultural leader, producing a body of work that is recognized worldwide. Through a series of slides, he will examine how the Haida art “alphabet” has been passed down and reimagined by successive generations.
The master artist will also reflect on his career — which spans several mediums, including printmaking, painting and jewelry — and his role in the ongoing renaissance of Haida art and culture. His works are featured in prestigious collections such as the National Gallery of Canada, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Vancouver Art Gallery, among others.
Davidson is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Order of Canada and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award. His lecture will provide a glimpse into the artistic journey that led him to become such an influential figure in the field of Native art.
The lecture is scheduled for noon, Thursday, Sept. 26, in Shuká Hít within the Walter Soboleff Building, 105 Heritage Way, in Juneau. The event will be livestreamed and posted on SHI’s YouTube channel.
Sealaska Heritage Institute is a private nonprofit founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Its goal is to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services and events. SHI also conducts scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee and a Southeast Regional Language Committee.
CONTACT: Kathy Dye, SHI Communications and Publications Deputy Director, 907.321.4636, kathy.dye@sealaska.com.
Caption: Robert Davidson. Photo by Brian Wallace, courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute. Note: Media outlets are permitted to use this image for coverage of this story. For a higher-res image, contact kathy.dye@sealaska.com.