Alcheringa Gallery
665 Fort Street
Victoria, BC, Canada
TEL: (250) 383-8224
FAX: (250) 383-9399
email alcheringa
|
|
|
|
|
<< back to artist listing
 Robert Davidson
Haida
Robert Davidson, one of Canada's most distinguised artists, was born in Hydaburg, Alaska in 1946. Robert’s Haida name is Guud San Glans, meaning Eagle of the Dawn. The family moved to Massett, Haida Gwaii, (Queen Charlotte Islands) in 1947. Encouraged by his father, Claude Davidson, and his grandfather, Robert Davidson Sr., Robert began carving argillite (a slate stone indigenous to Haida Gwaii) at the age of thirteen. Robert moved to Vancouver to complete his final year of high school in 1965. By this time he had a familiarity with the medium from the senior Davidsons, both of whom were accomplished carvers. Robert began his apprenticeship with master artist Bill Reid in 1966, studying Haida engraving and design forms.
ACHIEVEMENTS
1966 Began apprenticeship with Haida master carver Bill Reid
1967-68 Enrolled at the Vancouver School of Art, Vancouver, BC
1968 Instructed carving with 'Ksan project in Hazelton, BC
Attended extension course in jewellery making at the Vancouver School of Art, Vancouver, BC
1969 Gift to the community of Massett: Carved and erected a 40-ft totem pole for the village of Massett (BC Cultural Fund assistance). This was the first pole erected in 90 years in Haida Gwaii
1969-70 Enrolled in Vancouver School of Art, Vancouver, BC
1970 Presentation of a 10-ft totem pole to the City of Montréal: Sponsored by the Museum of Anthropology to demonstrate carving at the Man and His World exhibit on the Expo site in Montréal, Québec
Presentation of a 10-ft totem pole to Ireland: Canadian delegate to the World’s Council of Craftsmen conference in Dublin. Pole erected at the Dublin Zoo
1971 First solo show – Exhibition at the Vancouver Museum and Planetarium (March), Vancouver, BC
Exhibition: Legacy – Contemporary BC Indian Art held at the BC Provincial Museum, Victoria, BC (toured until 1982)
1972 Sponsored by Air Canada to demonstrate carving in Bern, Switzerland. Toured Switzerland and Germany viewing Haida art in Museums and Private Collections.
1973 Worked on a totem pole with Bill Reid at the Whonnock Studio
Adzed beams for the Haida long house at the Royal BC Provincial Museum, Victoria, BC
1976 Commissioned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to carve a cedar dance screen.
1977 Commissioned by Historic Sites of Canada to create a monument to Charles Edenshaw for his contributions to the arts of Canada. This house front to the traditional long house was in old Massett (now destroyed)
Assisted Bill Reid on a totem pole in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii
1978 Solo Exhibition at the Bent Box Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1979 Solo Exhibition: Cycles – The Graphic Art of Robert Davidson, a retrospective, UBC Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, BC
Publication: Robert Davidson – Haida Printmaker by Hilary Stewart. Ten years of prints in chronological order
1980 Tribute to the Living Haida – A four day feast organized by Robert to celebrate life. March 20-23 Massett, BC
Formed the Rainbow Creek Dancers, a dance group that performs traditional and contemporary Haida songs and dances.
Assisted brother Reg Davidson in carving a 30-ft totem pole for Tamagawa University in Tokyo, Japan
Exhibition: Group show with Joe David and Norman Tait a the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona
1981 Potlatch: Children of the Good People held in Masset, BC (Robert formally adopted West Coast artist Joe David at this event.)
Keynote speaker at the Arts Conference in Fairbanks, Alaska
1983 Solo Exhibition at the Maple Ridge Art Gallery (March), Maple Ridge, BC
Solo Exhibition at the Fachwerk Gallery in Bad Salzuflen, West Germany
Group Exhibition BC Arts and Artists 1931 – 1983 held at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Group Exhibition BC Printmakers held at the Victoria Art Gallery, Victoria, BC
Commissioned by the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, CA, to paint a mural
1985 Publication: A Haida Potlatch Ulli Steltzer, University of Washington
Commission: The Three Watchmen. One 50-ft and two 30-ft totem poles installed at College Park, Maclean-Hunter Building, Toronto, Ont.
Commissioned by the Catholic Church of Vancouver, to do a Talking Stick for presentation to the people, to commemorate the Papal visit to Vancouver. Now in the Vatican Collection.
Taught Advanced Northwest Coast design totem heritage in Ketchican, Alaska
Commission: The Frog Bronze (three feet in diameter) for PepsiCo, installed in their International Sculpture Park, Purchase, NY
Commission: Raven Bringing Light to the World (Bronze four feet in diameter). Unveiled at the Museum of Anthropology and exhibited at Expo '86, Vancouver, BC. Also exhibited with the "Spirit Sings" show a the Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta. Subsequently show at the McMichael in Kleinberg before it's final installation at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, Ontario
1986 Commission: Three Variations of the Killer Whale Myth, a related group of three totems (31-ft, 32-ft and 36-ft) installed in PepsiCo’s International Sculpture Park, Purchase, NY
1987 Purchase: painting Raven Bringing Light to the World for use on singer Bruce Cockburn’s Waiting for a Miracle album cover
Purchase: painting Hugging the World purchased privately and subsequently donated to the National Gallery, Ottawa, Ont.
Group Exhibition: Hands of Creation held at the Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1989 Group Exhibition: Collector’s Vision held at the Barrie Art Gallery, Barrie, Ontario
Commission: Skeleton Housefront, a 50-ft totem pole with roof beams and two flanking watchmen figures. Private commission, Toronto, Ontario
Commission: Breaking the Totem Barrier a 20-ft totem pole privately commissioned, New York, NY
Solo Exhibition: Robert Davidson held at the Inuit gallery, Vancouver, BC (April)
Feast: Every Year the Salmon Come Back a two day celebration held in Masset, BC (May)
Solo Exhibition: Eagle Song held at the Derek Simpkins Gallery of Tribal Art, Vancouver, BC
Group Exhibition: Masks, held at the Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC (November)
1990 Group Exhibition held at the Meridian Gallery, San Francisco, CA (September)
Multi-Media: Transformation Mask visual story of Vancouver held on Grouse Mountain, Vancouver, BC
1990-91 Exhibition at the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, WA Selected prints from 1982 to 1990
Commission: The Inside Job a 17-ft totem pole privately commissioned. West Vancouver, BC
Film: Documentation of the feast Every Year the Salmon Come Back
Film: Documentation of The Inside Job in conjunction with the Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1992 Solo Exhibition: Robert Davidson – Recollections held at the Arthur Ross Gallery at the University of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Received Honorary Degree from the University of Victoria: Doctor of Fine Arts
Solo Exhibition at the Derek Simpkins Gallery of Tribal Art, Vancouver, BC
1993 Major Solo Retrospective Exhibition: Eagle of the Dawn held at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Major Solo Retrospective Exhibition: Eagle of the Dawn opened at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull, Québec
Publication: Robert Davidson – Eagle of the Dawn editor Ian Thom, published by Douglas & McIntyre
Co-host Urban Feast bringing Haida culture to the Urban Haidas
1994 Received Degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa from Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
Co-host Urban Feast bringing Haida Culture Haidas in Vancouver and other Urban Communities
1995 Publication: Eagle Transforming – The Art of Robert Davidson, editor Saeko Usukawa, published by Douglas & McIntyre
Smithsonian Magazine January issue: Giving new life to Haida art and the culture it expresses. Received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Art and Culture
Received the Order of British Columbia, the Order recognized those persons who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in a field of endeavor benefiting the people of British Columbia
1996 Received the Order of Canada (membership)
1997 Release of gold coin by the Royal Canadian Mint bearing the design Raven Bringing Light to the World
Group Exhibition: Redefining Tradition held at the Whatcom Museum, Bellingham, WA. Selected prints
Commission: Raven Discovering Humankind at Rose Spit a 17-ft totem pole carved completely in the round, privately commissioned. Aspen, Colorado.
1998 Received Honorary Doctor of Letters from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
Spirits in the Sun: The First Canadian Indigenous Arts Festival, held in Scottsdale, Arizona. Keynote speaker at luncheon
Group Exhibition: Made by Hand – Silver Edition 1998 held at the Crafts Association of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. Silver bracelet Seawolf
Group Exhibition: Down from the Shimmering Sky – Masks of the Northwest Coast held at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Solo Exhibition: held at Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery, Reed College, Portland, Oregon
Commission: The Gift two 15-ft totem poles, commissioned by the White Rock detachment of the RCMP to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the RCMP, White Rock, BC. One pole carved in traditional Haida style and the other carved in Salish style.
Group Exhibition: Premonitions – Artists Exploring Possibilities held at the Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1999 Commission: Hugging the World suspended sculpture for the Vancouver International Airport Authority, Vancouver, BC
Commission: Transformation in Transition a 15-ft totem pole carved completely in the round, privately commissioned. Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Group Exhibition: Arrows of the Spirit held at the Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA
Guest Speaker at Santa Rosa Junior College: Eagle of the Dawn: A Conversation with Robert Davidson, Santa Rosa, CA
Guest Speaker at Bill Reid Symposium: Going Beyond The Surface of the Tree Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
2000 Created and donated carved panel Eagle Emerging for the Eugene Reimer award, to be presented annually by the BC Sport and Fitness Council for the Disabled. Installed at the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
Guest Speaker at the St. Louis Art Museum
Juror for Millennium Exhibition of Federation of Canadian Artists, held in Vancouver, BC
Tribal Miniatures ’00, annual exhibition, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC
2001 Keynote speaker at the Marin Museum of the American Indian, The Sea Predominates: Northwest Coast Indian Art, symposium and exhibition.
2002 Four New Images by Robert Davidson, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC
2003 In Celebration of the Feast, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC
2006 Raven Travelling: Two Centuries of Haida Art, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
1969 Beautiful British Columbia; Fall issue, pp. 34-35
1970 Tawow; Volume 2, Number 2, pp. 28-31
1973 Wood World; Second Quarter
1977 Northwest Coast Indian Artist Guild Graphics Collection
1978 The Native Perspective; Volume 3, Number 2
Canadian Conservation Institute, Volume 3
Artwest; Volume 3, Number 1
1979 Vanguard: November issue
BC Western Living; April Issue
Article; Cycles: The Graphic Art of Robert Davidson. Museum note #7, Marjorie Halpin, curator, Ethnology, UBC Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, BC
Publication: Robert Davidson – Haida Printmaker, author Hillary Stewart. Published by Douglas & McIntyre
1982 Arts Canada: Contingencies November cover article
1984 Publication: A Haida Potlatch Author Ulli Steltzer, published by the University of Washington
1985 Equinox Magazine High Rise Totems; Haida Art Graces Toronto high-rise Complex
1987 Vancouver Sun: An Art Reborn, Eve Johnson, October 25th
1988 Vancouver Sun: Noblest Eagle of Them All Terry Glavin, May 9th
1989 Vanguard Magazine; Art 1989
1990 Western Living Magazine; The Eagle Soars March issue
Beautiful British Columbia Return of the Salmon Eaters, Ann Mayhew, Fall Issue
Fine Woodworking Design; Book five
1991 Fine Woodcarving Design; Book six
National Geographic Canada’s Incredible Coasts
Canadian House and Home; Aug/Sept. edition
1992 Preview of the Visual Arts
The Vancouver Sun; Taking Hold of the Reins, Lisa Fitterman, Nov. 21st
1993 Macleans; On the Cutting Edge – Robert Davidson leads a Haida renaissance, Patricia Hluchy, August issue
The Georgia Straight; Art of the Healing Eagle, Robin Lawrence, June 2-9 issue
Publication: Robert Davidson – Eagle of the Dawn , edited by Ian Thom, published by Douglas & McIntyre
Globe & Mail; Haida Artist Taps Healing Power of Art, Chris Dafoe, July 3rd
Shaman’s Drum: The Spirited Masks of Robert Davidson, Aldona Jonaitis
1994 Canadian Art; On the Edge of a Knife Carol Off, Spring 1994, Volume 11, Number 1
1995 Publication: Eagle Transforming – The Art of Robert Davidson, editor Saeko Usukawa, published by Douglas & McIntyre
Smithsonian Magazine (January) – Giving New Life to Haida Art and the Culture it Expresses
1998 Indian Artist Magazine: Robert Davidson, Haida Carver, written by Peter Macnair
1999 Essential Vancouver Magazine: Masks in Motion, written by Adriana Barton
Southwest Art: Trends and Traditions, written by Peter Mcnair
ROBERT DAVIDSON FILMS
1963 Haida Carver, National Film Board
1969 The Far Land, Klahanee Film Series, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
1970 This Was the Time, National Film of Canada Production
1981 Ee yaa ak Ma (drum making) Matrix Video
1984 Adventure BC, Bob Switzer Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
1985 Adventure BC, Bob Switzer Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
1986 Tools and Materials, The Big A series, Ricky Deragisch, KCFT The Knowledge Network
The Three Watchmen, Matrix Video
1989 Every Year the Salmon Come Back, Finale Production INC
1990 Our Spirit Soars, produced by The Producers Workshop for the Theater in the Sky on Grouse Mountain, Vancouver, BC
1991 The Inside Job, in conjunction with the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver, BC
1994 Knowledge Network – Arts Edge, produced and directed by Ian Herring
1995 The Eagle Soars, Hunter Production
|
Pieces by Robert Davidson:
|
|
|
|
