Curator & Collector

Northwest Coast artist April White

It is, of course, the 2010 Olympics, and I am pleased to see an Olympic welcoming of the aboriginal art of the Northwest Coast in the public spaces of metropolitan Vancouver. On the weekend, I and my family took in several events related to the First Nations arts of the northwest Coast. Among the first of these experiences was a trip to Haida Gwaii House. There, I met April White, and saw her evocative work “Supernatural Beings” on the wall. (I hope I’m remembering correctly.) A similar work, which I particularly like, is shown below:

Image of “Killer Whale” by April White taken from AprilWhite.com

Although Haida Gwaii House was very small (one small room, essentially), I was very glad I went. I would love to travel to Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands), and I was one of many people who entered a free draw to receive a chance at a trip for two to Haida Gwaii. It was also quite wonderful to meet Ms. White, and it was good for me to discover another Northwest Coast artist and her art.