Dale Campbell

Country/Region: Northwest Coast (view other artists)

Tribe: Tahltan / Tlingit

Although born in Prince Rupert, Dale’s (b. 1954) family is from Telegraph Creek, BC. She is of the Wolf Clan, an affiliation she shares with her mother Peggy. Dale’s father Harry, is of the Raven clan. Both sides of the family come from Telegraph Creek, a small village on the Stikine River in Northern BC.

Dale Campbell is an established artist and resident of Prince Rupert, but she still finds time to go home to Telegraph Creek at least once a year. She sees this as a time of renewal and inspiration. She says, It gives me an opportunity to hear the old Indian stories and to stay in touch with the traditional lifestyles of my people. Dale finds much of her artistic inspiration within the myths and legends of the Tahlatan and Tlingit people. Through her research and art she has acquired a much deeper awareness and understanding of her ancestry.

Dale Campbell’s career as an artist began in earnest with her apprenticeship with Dempsey Bob. In 1972, she enrolled in art classes taught by Dempsey Bob and also took courses from Henry Green, Victor Reece and Rick Adkins. These artists encouraged Dale to pursue her art. Freda Diesing and Glen Wood were also extremely influential and important in the course of Dale’s emergence as a serious artist.

Four years later in 1976, Dale’s Eagle design was chosen from a large group of artist’s submissions to serve as the logo for the Museum of Northern BC, in Prince Rupert. Following this competition, Dale participated in two major exhibitions at the Museum of Northern BC: Art of the Salmon People, and Indian Woman Art Show.

In July 1982, together with Alvin Adkins and her brother, Terry Campbell, Dale carved a 30-ft. totem pole, which was raised in the traditional manner in front of the carving longhouse adjacent to the Museum of Northern BC.

Always fascinated by the arts of engraving and jewellery making, Dale Campbell traveled to Vancouver in 1984 to enroll in the Vancouver Vocational Institute. Since then, Dale has been widening her repertoire in the field of metal engraving, incorporating traditional designs and legends. Working in yet another medium, Dale designed and constructed a button blanket for an exhibition entitled Robes of Power, Totem Poles on Cloth which opened in May 1985, in Adelaide, Australia. In 1986, this exhibition was featured in Vancouver at Expo '86.

In 1991, Dale and Terry Campbell were sent by the Government of Canada to Hong Kong to demonstrate the art of carving and to raise a 31-ft pole, which Dale had designed and she and her brother had carved. This killerwhale totem pole was given to the people of Hong Kong and erected in Kowloon Park in a traditional pole raising ceremony.

Dale continues to explore various media for her artforms. She is a devoted carver with a particular interest in totem poles and masks. She also continues to enjoy silver engraving.

Dale Campbell’s work is in private collections in Europe, North American and Japan.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

1999 Vision Keepers, Group Exhibition as one of four prominent women (Valerie Morgan, Isabel Rorick and Susan Point) from different cultural groups within the Northwest Coast tradition, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC

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