Alcheringa Gallery
665 Fort Street
Victoria, BC, Canada
TEL: (250) 383-8224
FAX: (250) 383-9399
email alcheringa
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Richard Hunt
Kwakwaka'wakw
Richard Hunt was born in 1951 in Alert bay, British Columbia, but has lived most of his life in Victoria. His tribal affiliation is Southern Kwakwaka'wakw. He began carving with his father, the late Henry Hunt, at the age of thirteen. After completing his high school education, Richard began work at the British Columbia Provincial Museum in 1973 as an apprentice carver under his father. The following year he assumed the duties of chief carver in the Thunderbird Park carving Program. He remained at the museum in that capacity for twelve years. In 1986, Richard resigned to begin his new career as a freelance artist. Richard comes from a family of internationally respected artists, which include his father, Henry Hunt and his grandfather, Mungo Martin.
Richard Hunt has created a diverse body of artwork. In two-dimensional form, his numerous designs are reproduced as limited edition serigraphs, painted on drums, boxes and screens; and engraved jewellery. He is best known as a three-dimensional sculptor in wood. Richard has created many ceremonial works - masks, frontlets, rattles and bowls, both for use in potlatches and for museum collections, galleries,and private individuals. He has completed many monumental works including totem poles, grave markers, houseposts and a full size Nuu Chah Nulth whaling canoe.
Richard is an experienced ritualist and dancer. He has performed at many potlatches, feasts, and dances. Among his ceremonial prerogatives is the hamatsa dance, the highest ranked of the Kwakwaka'wakw dances.
As chief carver at the BC Provincial Museum, he was required to work in public, and to answer all inquiries concerning his art and cultural traditions. This was a major responsibility since the Provincial Museum has an annual visitorship of a million people. In 1993, Richard Hunt was elected to the Board of Directors of the Royal British Columbia Museum. Richard Hunt has also given numerous formal talks to a variety of interested groups, from preschoolers to university graduates. In travelling to demonstrate his art overseas, he has acted as an ambassador for Native people, for British Columbia, and for Canada. Richard Hunt was especially honored when one of his masks was presented to Queen Elizabeth as a gift during a state visit to Canada in 1983.
In 1991, Richard Hunt received the Order of British Columbia "in recognition of serving with the greatest distinction and excellence in a field of endeavor benefiting the people of the Province of British Columbia or elsewhere". Richard was the first native artist to be so recognized.
Richard Hunt's Kwakwaka'wakw name is Gwe-la-yp-gwe-la-gya-les, it means a man that travels around the world giving. Through his art and his dancing, Richard Hunt has indeed given much to the world.
The following is a list of some of Richard Hunt's major sculptural works:
1976 Carved a 15-ft. totem pole for the Museum of Ethnology in Osaka, Japan.
1978 With Nuu Chah Nulth artist, Tim Paul, carved a 15-ft. totem pole for the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Middlesborough, England, to commemorate to 200th anniversary of Cook’s arrival on Vancouver Island.
1979 Completed first solo pole, a 26-ft. totem erected at the main entrance to the British Columbia Provincial Museum.
Carved an 8-ft. totem pole for the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris, France.
1980 Carved and erected a 15-ft. pole at the City Arts Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland, in conjunction with the Edinburgh Festival. The pole was shipped in a roughed-out state and completed on-site during a four week period. While in Edinburgh, Richard was involved in many publicity and educational sessions.
1982 Assisted Tim Paul, carved and erected a 35-ft. pole for the CBC headquarters in Vancouver. Worked on-site during most of the project, answering questions from the public. This pole now serves as a CBC Vancouver logo.
Carved a 12-ft. memorial totem pole to the memory of Chief Freddie Williams. The pole was erected with full tradition ceremony, in which Richard participated in the remote village of HeMas (Hopetown). At this time, Richard was initiated as Hamatsa for the second time.
1984 Carved and erected a 15-ft. pole for the City of Liverpool, England. The pole was finished on-site at the International Gareen Festival. Again, Richard appeared on National BBC broadcasts and telecasts.
1985 At the request of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, travelled with Tim Paul to Windsor Great Park in England, to repair and repaint the totem pole presented to Her Majesty in 1958 by the Province of British Columbia in honour of her centennial visit to BC. The pole was carved by Richard Hunt's grandfather, Mungo Marting and father, Henry Hunt. While repainting the pole, Richard met and spoke with the Queen when she visited the work site.
Along with Tim Paul and Eugene Arima, created a 37-ft. Nuu Chah Nulth whaling canoe. This canoe was on exhibit at EXPO '86 in Vancouver, BC, and has been used on many occasions by the Royal British Columbia Museum.
1986 with Tim Paul, carved a 25-ft. pole for the Southwest Museum in California. Spent three weeks on-site in Los Angeles, carving, painting and fielding questions from many museum visitors and staff.
Carved two 15-ft. totem poles for the British Columbia pavilion at EXPO '86 in Vancouver, BC. Traveled to the EXPO site for the final week's work.
1987 Carved a 12-ft. pole for the city of Duncan, BC. The pole was dedicated with traditional dances performed by members of Richard’s band, the Fort Rupert Dancers.
Carved a 30-ft. totem pole for the Pavilion at EXPO '88 in Brisbane, Australia.
1988 Carved the World’s largest-in-diameter totem pole for the city of Duncan, BC. This pole stands 24-ft. high and has a diameter of 7-ft. at the top.
1989 Carved a 20-ft. pole for a private collector on Bowen Island, BC.
Designed and painted an 8 by 23-ft. dance screen for the Canadian Museum of Civilization, in Hull, Québec. John Livingston assisted with the painting.
Carved a Bear transformation mask for the Science Museum of Minnesota. The museum made a complete grizzly bear costume to go with it. This costume took three bear hides sewn together.
1990 Carved a 30-ft. totem pole for a private collector in Los Angeles, CA.
Richard has his first solo art show at Derek Simpkins Gallery of Tribal Art in Vancouver, BC.
1991 Travelled to Los Angeles to give carving demonstrations at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, and the Natural History Museum and to California State University for another demonstration and a lecture.
Carved as a private commission a monumental plaque depicting the Animal Kingdom from the Sea being summoned to dance in the Big House. The plaque measures 15 by 6 feet, is two inches thick and is carved in one-inch relief.
Received the prestigious Order of British Columbia in recognition of his contributions to the artistic and cultural spheres of the Province.
Carved a 4 by 12 foot table depicting Elders' Gathering, commissioned by the First People's Language, Culture and Heritage Council.
1992 Traveled to New York to give a carving demonstrating at the American Museum of Natural History. While at the Museum, he carved a 12-ft. totem pole for the exhibit, Chiefly Feasts.
Diazed and painted a 20-ft. Kwakwaka'wakw housefront, depicting Raven and Sisiutl on permanent display at Knott’s Berry Farm, Los Angeles.
Carved a 7 1/2-ft. totem pole replica Killerwhale for a private collector. This mask is currently on load for display in the travelling exhibit, Chiefly Feasts.
Along with Charles Eliott and Art Thompson, carved the Queen’s Baton used in the Commonwealth Games held in Victoria, BC, in 1994.
1993 Echoes of Chiefly Feasts: Masterworks by Eleven Members of the Hunt Family, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC.
Tribal Miniatures '93, first annual exhibition, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC
Received the Canada 125 medal in recognition of significant contribution to his compatriots, community and Canada.
Commissioned to carve a talking stick as part of the Convocational Ceremonial Furnishings for the University of Victoria.
Commissioned by the Provincial Government to carve the Speaker's clock as a gift from the province to the Northwest Territories.
Carving demonstration and lecture at the Smithsonian Institute to coincide with opening of Chiefly Feasts in New York.
1994 Nation to Nation, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC
Tribal Miniatures: Gems of the Northwest Coast, annual exhibition, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC
Life of the Copper: A Commonwealth of Tribal Nations, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC.
1995 Richard Hunt, Derek Simpkins Gallery of Tribal Art, Vancouver, BC.
Appointed to the Works of Art Board by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and also appointed to the newly formed BC Art Council.
1996 Spirits of the Forest, Sea, and Sky: Masks by Mastercarvers of the Northwest Coast, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC.
Richard Hunt was asked to serve on the seven member selection board responsible for the choice of design and name for the Governor General’s award, Caring Canadians Award.
1997 Richard Hunt: Graphic Works, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC.
1998 Voices from Ft. Rupert: The Hunt Family Carves, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC.
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