Nathan Jackson (artist)
Encyclopedia
Nathan Jackson is an American artist. He is among the most important living Tlingit artists and the most important Alaska
n artists. He is best known for his totem pole
s, but works in a variety of media.
Jackson belongs to the Sockeye clan
on the Raven side of the Chilkoot Tlingit. As a young adult, he served in the military in Germany
, and then became involved in commercial fishing. While ill with pneumonia
and unable to fish, he began to carve miniature totem poles. His interest in art was piqued, and he enrolled in the Institute of American Indian Arts
in Santa Fe
, New Mexico
. Since then, Jackson's work has included large totem poles, canoes, carved doors, wood panel clan crests, masks, and jewelry. Jackson has worked to pass on traditional Tlingit carving skills to younger artists, and has offered many demonstrations and workshops in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
Jackson has created more than 50 totem poles, some of which are on display in the National Museum of the American Indian
, the Field Museum in Chicago, Harvard University
's Peabody Museum
, and other museums in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Other totem poles stand outside Juneau Douglas High School, Juneau's Centennial Hall, in Juneau's Sealaska
Building, in Totem Bight State Historical Park
, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center
, at Saxman Totem Park, and at the Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan. He is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts
National Heritage Fellowship
(1995), a Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist Award (2009), and an honorary doctorate in humanities from the University of Alaska Southeast
.
Jackson currently resides in Ketchikan, Alaska. His wife and son are also artists.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
n artists. He is best known for his totem pole
Totem pole
Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large trees, mostly Western Red Cedar, by cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America...
s, but works in a variety of media.
Jackson belongs to the Sockeye clan
Tlingit clans
The Tlingit clans of Southeast Alaska, in the United States, are one of the indigenous cultures within Alaska. The Tlingit people also live in the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, Canada, and in the southern Yukon Territory...
on the Raven side of the Chilkoot Tlingit. As a young adult, he served in the military in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and then became involved in commercial fishing. While ill with pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and unable to fish, he began to carve miniature totem poles. His interest in art was piqued, and he enrolled in the Institute of American Indian Arts
Institute of American Indian Arts
The Institute of American Indian Arts is a college focused on Native American art. It is situated in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is congressionally chartered, and was created by an executive order of former American President John F. Kennedy in 1962...
in Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. Since then, Jackson's work has included large totem poles, canoes, carved doors, wood panel clan crests, masks, and jewelry. Jackson has worked to pass on traditional Tlingit carving skills to younger artists, and has offered many demonstrations and workshops in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
Jackson has created more than 50 totem poles, some of which are on display in the National Museum of the American Indian
National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian is a museum operated under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution that is dedicated to the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of the native Americans of the Western Hemisphere...
, the Field Museum in Chicago, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Peabody Museum
Peabody Museum
The Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University is among the oldest, largest, and most prolific university natural history museums in the world. It was founded by the philanthropist George Peabody in 1866 at the behest of his nephew Othniel Charles Marsh, the early paleontologist...
, and other museums in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Other totem poles stand outside Juneau Douglas High School, Juneau's Centennial Hall, in Juneau's Sealaska
Sealaska
Sealaska Corporation is the largest of thirteen Alaska Native Regional Corporations created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 in settlement of aboriginal land claims. Sealaska was incorporated in Alaska on June 16, 1972...
Building, in Totem Bight State Historical Park
Totem Bight State Historical Park
In 1938, the United States Forest Service used Civilian Conservation Corps funds to hire skilled carvers from among the older Native Alaskans to repair or duplicate totem poles that were abandoned when the natives moved to communities where work was available. The CCC project put the community...
, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaska Native Heritage Center
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is an educational and cultural institution for all Alaskans, located in Anchorage, Alaska. The center opened in 1999. The Alaska Native Heritage Center shares the heritage of Alaska's 11 major cultural groups....
, at Saxman Totem Park, and at the Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan. He is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
National Heritage Fellowship
National Heritage Fellowship
The National Heritage Fellowship is a lifetime honor presented to master folk and traditional artists by the National Endowment for the Arts. Similar to Japan's Living National Treasure award, the Fellowship is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts...
(1995), a Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist Award (2009), and an honorary doctorate in humanities from the University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast
The University of Alaska Southeast is a regional university in the University of Alaska System. Its main campus is located in Juneau and it has extended campuses in Sitka and Ketchikan....
.
Jackson currently resides in Ketchikan, Alaska. His wife and son are also artists.