Luke Marston

Country/Region: Northwest Coast (view other artists from Northwest Coast)

Tribe: Coast Salish

Coast Salish artist Luke Marston (b. 1976) grew up in a family of artists. He has been carving since he was a child. His parents, Jane and David Marston, are experienced carvers who provided Luke with his introduction to the art and skill of carving. When first carving, Luke sought guidance from Haida/Nisga'a artist, Wayne Young. Wayne taught him about detailed finishing and refined form and design. A stone carving symposium on Saltspring Island, BC in 1998 introduced him to that medium. Luke continued his education with Coast Salish elder, Simon Charlie, from whom he learned about his people's history and traditional stories. In 1999, Luke assisted Charlie with the carving of four house posts for a public school in Seattle, WA. Recently he worked with Johnathan Henderson and Sean Whonnock on a totem pole for the Royal British Columbia Museum's (RBCM) Thunderbird Park in Victoria, BC. Luke spends his summers demonstrating carving at the RBCM with Kwakwaka'wakw carver, Shawn Karpes. Much of the artist's time is spent studying the museum's archives and historical collections. Through his work, Luke wants to preserve his culture and share it with the public.

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