Robert Davidson (artist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Charles Davidson, CM
, OBC
(born 4 November 1946 in Hydaburg, Alaska
), is a Canadian
artist of Haida heritage. His specialties are in carving (such as totem pole
s and masks), sculpture
and painting.
His parents are Claude and Vivian Davidson and, through Claude, he is the grandson of the Haida artist and memoirist Florence Davidson
. He is a member of the Eagle moiety, Ts'ał'lanas lineage. In infancy, he moved to the Haida village of Masset, British Columbia
, on Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands)
. For high school, he moved to Vancouver
to attend Point Grey Secondary School
in 1965. In 1966 he became apprenticed to the master Haida carver Bill Reid
. In 1967 he began studies at the Vancouver School of Art
. In 1969 he raised the first totem pole on Haida Gwaii in approximately ninety years.
Davidson, known internationally as a carver of totem poles and masks, printmaker, painter and jeweller, has become a leading figure in the renaissance of Haida art and culture. Today he lives near Vancouver, working out of a studio on Semiahmoo First Nation
land and making annual return visits to Haida Gwaii.
Some of his works were featured at the Canadian Museum of Civilization
and the Vancouver Art Gallery
.
The first major public exhibition in ten years, Robert Davidson: The Abstract Edge was organized by the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia
(UBC) for viewing at the National Gallery of Canada
in Ottawa
in 2007.
His younger brother and former apprentice, Reg Davidson
, is also a Haida carver.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OBC
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
(born 4 November 1946 in Hydaburg, Alaska
Hydaburg, Alaska
Hydaburg is a town in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 382 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hydaburg is located at . It is the southernmost city on Prince of Wales Island...
), is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
artist of Haida heritage. His specialties are in carving (such as 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 and masks), sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
and painting.
His parents are Claude and Vivian Davidson and, through Claude, he is the grandson of the Haida artist and memoirist Florence Davidson
Florence Davidson
Florence Edenshaw Davidson was a Canadian First Nations artist from the Haida nation who created traditional basketry and button-blankets and was also a respected elder in her First Nations community, the Haida village of Masset, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia.She was born in Masset on...
. He is a member of the Eagle moiety, Ts'ał'lanas lineage. In infancy, he moved to the Haida village of Masset, British Columbia
Masset, British Columbia
Masset , formerly Massett, is a village in Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the northern coast of Graham Island, the largest island in the archipelago, and is approximately west of mainland British Columbia. It is the western terminus of the Yellowhead Highway...
, on Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands)
Queen Charlotte Islands
Haida Gwaii , formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands, is an archipelago on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Haida Gwaii consists of two main islands: Graham Island in the north, and Moresby Island in the south, along with approximately 150 smaller islands with a total landmass of...
. For high school, he moved to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
to attend Point Grey Secondary School
Point Grey Secondary School
Point Grey Secondary School is an 8-12 secondary school located in the Kerrisdale and Shaugnessy neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The main building was built in 1929 in a Collegiate Gothic style. Construction of the school was commissioned by the Municipality of Point Grey...
in 1965. In 1966 he became apprenticed to the master Haida carver Bill Reid
Bill Reid
William Ronald Reid, OBC was a Canadian artist whose works included jewelry, sculpture, screen-printing, and painting. His work is featured on the Canadian $20 banknote.-Biography:...
. In 1967 he began studies at the Vancouver School of Art
Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
Emily Carr University of Art and Design is a public post-secondary University located on Granville Island in Vancouver, BC, Canada...
. In 1969 he raised the first totem pole on Haida Gwaii in approximately ninety years.
Davidson, known internationally as a carver of totem poles and masks, printmaker, painter and jeweller, has become a leading figure in the renaissance of Haida art and culture. Today he lives near Vancouver, working out of a studio on Semiahmoo First Nation
Semiahmoo First Nation
Semiahmoo First Nation is the band government of the Semiahmoo people, a Coast Salish subgroup. The band's main community and offices are located on of Indian Reserved just south of White Rock, British Columbia and near the Canada-United States boundary and Peace Arch Provincial Park.-...
land and making annual return visits to Haida Gwaii.
Some of his works were featured at the Canadian Museum of Civilization
Canadian Museum of Civilization
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada's national museum of human history and the most popular and most-visited museum in Canada....
and the Vancouver Art Gallery
Vancouver Art Gallery
The Vancouver Art Gallery is the fifth-largest art gallery in Canada and the largest in Western Canada. It is located at 750 Hornby Street in Vancouver, British Columbia...
.
The first major public exhibition in ten years, Robert Davidson: The Abstract Edge was organized by the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
(UBC) for viewing at the National Gallery of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 2007.
His younger brother and former apprentice, Reg Davidson
Reg Davidson
Reg Davidson is a Canadian First Nations carver and a member of the Haida nation.He was born in 1954 at the Haida village of Masset on the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia. His parents are Claude and Vivian Davidson and, through Claude, he is the grandson of the Haida artist and...
, is also a Haida carver.
Awards and recognition
- 1992 : University of VictoriaUniversity of VictoriaThe University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
, awarded Honorary Doctor of Fine ArtsDoctor of Fine ArtsDoctor of Fine Arts is doctoral degree in fine arts, typically given as an honorary degree . The degree is typically conferred to honor the recipient who has made a contribution to society in the arts... - 1995: appointed Order of British ColumbiaOrder of British ColumbiaThe Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
- 1995 : received the Aboriginal Achievement Award
- 1996 : appointed Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
- 2007 : received honorary degree Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) from UBC
- 2007 : received lifetime achievement award by the B.C. Creative Achievement Awards for Aboriginal Art
Sources
- Blackman, Margaret B. (1982; rev. ed., 1992) During My Time: Florence Edenshaw Davidson, a Haida Woman. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
- Jensen, Doreen, and Polly Sargent (1986) Robes of Power: Totem Poles on Cloth. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.
- Macnair, Peter L., Alan L. Hoover, and Kevin Neary (1984) The Legacy: Tradition and Innovation in Northwest Coast Indian Art. Vancouver, B.C.: Douglas & McIntyre.
- Stewart, Hilary (1993). Looking at Totem Poles. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-97259-9.
- Robert Davidson lands lifetime achievement award By Alex Browne, Arts Reporter, Peace Arch News, June 12, 2007
External links
- Robert Davidson official website
- Spirit Wrestler Gallery (Vancouver, Canada)
- Kinsman Robinson Galleries
- Order of British Columbia: Robert Davidson
- Robert Charles Davidson at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...