Humanities Information


My Introduction To Northwest Coast Native American Art


I had lived in Vancouver very briefly as a child and it was during that time when I was first exposed to the art of the Northwest Coast Native American Indians. It was the towering colorful totem poles out in Stanley Park that everyone gazed at with wonder and appreciation. It took about 30 years later during a return trip to Vancouver when Northwest Coast Native American art caught my eyes again.

I was in Vancouver for business and landed at the city's new airport terminal. One could not help but notice the huge native carvings near the arrivals area. Later on during my stay, I decided to wander around in the Gastown district. It was in these shops and galleries in Gastown where I fell in love with Northwest Coast Native American art. I saw many wonderful wooden plaques representing different animals. There were also art prints, paintings, masks, wooden bowls and even furnature with these animals either painted or carved right into the pieces.

The colors and designs, which might be considered a bit exaggerated to non-native eyes, were striking as well as bold. I knew at that time that I wanted to include some of this magnificent artwork on my walls back at home. So I bought two plaque carvings and carried them home like newly found treasure.

Historically, the native Indians who lived along the river valleys and coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest were all hunters and gatherers. The region was blessed with abundant resources from both the seas and forests. These people captured in their artwork the animals they hunted and observed. These included bears, killer whales, eagles, ravens, salmons, wolves, hummingbirds and even frogs. Chiefs and mythical characters important in their legends such as thunderbirds were also included as art subjects.

Northwest Coast Native American art is just only recently gaining some major attention in some galleries and museums around the world. Compared to other native arts such as Inuit (Eskimo), exposure of Northwest Coast Native American art is still rather limited to the northwest coast of Canada and the United States.

This form of artwork is virtually unknown to most parts of the world including many regions of North America. This will hopefully change as more people from around the world travel to Vancouver. The future winter Olympics in 2010 up in Whistler, BC will also have a positive impact on the region's Native Indian art. I personally believe that Northwest Coast Native American art has a lot of potential to be internationally recognized and accepted.

Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery (http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca), an online gallery specializing in Inuit and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.


MORE RESOURCES:

Guam Humanities Council Grant Cycle 2012 - Call for Proposals
Pacific News Center
Guam - The Guam Humanities Council is pleased to announce the opening of the organization's Community Grant Cycle for 2012. Working in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Guam Humanities Council provides financial support to ...

and more »


Trine to host Humanities Symposia
KPCnews.com
ANGOLA — The Humanities Symposia, sponsored by the Trine University Department of Language and Humanities, will begin Feb. 28 and continue through April 17. Each session is free, open to the public and will run from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in Wells Theater in ...



Humanities class explores unconventional topic
The Globe
When humanities professor Channa Newman set out to design and implement a course aimed at exposing the real minorities in America more than 10 years ago, she said she wanted to shed light on a group that flies carefully under the radar.



Lexington Herald Leader

Wendell Berry Named 41st Jefferson Lecturer in the Humanities
WFPL
by Erica Peterson on February 7, 2012 A Kentucky author, farmer and environmental activist has been recognized by the federal government for his achievements in the humanities. Wendell Berry was named the 41st Jefferson Lecturer in the Humanities by ...
Wendell Berry, poet and conservationist, selected to give 2012 Jefferson LectureWashington Post (blog)
Wendell Berry to Give 2012 Jefferson LectureNew York Times (blog)
Kentucky News Review: Hal Rogers earmarks $7 million for his neighborhoodLexington Herald Leader
Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription) (blog) -FOX19 -First Things (blog)
all 11 news articles »


Dust Bowl exhibit includes films, show
Windsor Beacon
It is sponsored by the Windsor Museum and was organized by the Nebraska Council for the Humanities in collaboration with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The exhibit examines the story of the Dust Bowl ...

and more »


Guam- The Guam Humanities Council (GHC) just started its grant cycle for 2012 ...
Pacific News Center
Executive Director Kimberly Kihleng says they offer small grants up to $10 thousand dollars to groups doing projects related to the humanities. She mentions it's all about empowering different projects within the local community.



Virginia Tech Collegiate Times

Employment out of college a matter of degree
U-T San Diego
That's the conclusion of a study that shows recent graduates with degrees in nontechnical fields such as the arts and humanities are more likely to be unemployed than their counterparts who specialize in education, health care, most kinds of ...
Study shows architecture majors are hurt most by economyVirginia Tech Collegiate Times

all 2 news articles »


Langley Principal Talks Honors Classes With Parents
Patch.com
Patch Langley High School Principal Matt Ragone met with more than 100 parents on Tuesday morning about the school board's recent decision to implement more honors level humanities classes in Fairfax County high schools.

and more »


COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER: UW-Parkside celebrates 'The Rita,' Black History Month ...
Journal Times
On a recent Saturday in January, UW-Parkside officially opened the beautiful new Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities, also known as “The Rita,” to the public. More than a thousand visitors to the Jan. 28 grand opening enjoyed ...

and more »


The Commercial Dispatch

Mississippi Humanities Council taps local volunteer for award
The Commercial Dispatch
When the Jackson-based Mississippi Humanities Council announced recipients of its 2012 Public Humanities Awards Thursday, Beverly Norris of Columbus, and the Columbus Arts Council, were named to receive the Humanities Partner Award.

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2007