Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art

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Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art

The Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art focuses on traditional First Nations Pacific Northwest Coast Art and is located on the unceded territory of the Ts'msyen Nation in Terrace, BC; Canada.

Named after the Haida artist Freda Diesing, one of the first female carvers on the modern Northwest coast, aka Kant Wuss, Skill-kew-wat and Wee-hwe-doasl, who was born in the Sadsugohilanes Clan of the Haida in British Columbia to Flossie and Frank Johnson. Her Haida name, Skill-kew-wat, translates roughly as Magical Little Woman.

At the age of 42, she undertook woodcarving apprenticeships under artists including Robert Davidson (artist).[1] In 2002, she received an National Aboriginal Achievement Award and honorary doctorate from the University of Northern British Columbia.[2]

The school was opened in the Fall of 2006 by one of Freda's students Dempsey Bob and two of his nephews, Ken McNeil and Stan Bevan.[3][4] The school focuses on carving in the Northern Style, with drawing, painting, art history and tool-making courses supporting the carving component of the school. Dempsey Bob received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Aboriginal Art in 2007 [5]

The school frequently invites guest speakers for presentations. These speakers have included Robert Davidson, Roy Henry Vickers, Keith Smartch, Bill McLennan, Greg Schauff, and representatives from the Royal BC Museum, the Canadian Museum of Civilization and other institutions representing the arts and culture in the Northwest Coast.

The First Nations Fine Arts program is unique as a university credit program, recognized by Emily Carr University of Art and Design,[6][7][8][9][10][11] that focuses on First Nations art and culture in a context where the culture and people who originated it live today.

2011 - Instructor Dean Heron with killer whale carving made by artist Cliff Bolton

As of September 2010, the school had 31 graduates. In the preceding years the numbers of graduates has grown, and the art First Nations Fine Arts program added a third year. The students and instructors of the school have won numerous awards. In 2012 Skeena Reece won the Annual BC Creative Achievement Awards for First Nations' Art.[12] In 2013, Dempsey Bob was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada,[13] Ken McNeil was a recipient of a 2013 BC Creative Achievement Awards for First Nations' Art.[14] In 2018 Nakita Trimble won the BC First Nations Art Fulmer Award.[15] In 2019 Stephanie Anderson was the recipient of the YVR Art Foundation scholarship award.[16][17] In 2021 founding member Dempsey Bob won the Governor General's Award for Visual Media and Art,[13] instructor Stan Bevan was awarded the Fulmer Award in First Nations Art by the province of BC [18] and Jessica McCallum Miller was awarded the Lieutenant Governor's Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation [19]

Notable Alumni and Faculty[edit]

  • Dempsey Bob, Founding member, Northwest Coast woodcarver and sculptor of Tahltan and Tlingit First Nations descent [13][5]
  • Jessica McCallum-Miller, Gitxsan artist, former Terrace City Councilor [19][20][21][22][23]
  • Ken McNeill, Founding member, master carver, instructor [14]
  • Nakita Trimble, Nisga'a tattoo artist, author, instructor [15]
  • Nathan Wilson, Haisla artist, instructor [24]
  • Skeena Reece, Canadian First Nations artist [12]
  • Stan Bevan, Founding instructor [18]
  • Stephanie Anderson, Wet'suwet'en artist, instructor[16][17][25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Freda Diesing". Da Vic Gallery. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Freda Diesing Biography". Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  3. ^ "2021 Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art, Student Exhibition". Kitimat Museum & Archives. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Tahltan-Tlingit artist Dempsey Bob says he dedicates his work to his ancestors". CBC.
  5. ^ a b "Tahltan-Tlingit artist Dempsey Bob carves his culture". Stir. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  6. ^ "Five more murals to be painted in downtown Terrace this summer". Terrace Standard. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Craving for carving: new work draws on B.C. artist's lifetime of experience". Vancouver Sun. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Vibrant Freda Diesing art exhibition returns to Kitimat". Kitimat Sentinel. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Terrace Art Gallery shows work of students from Freda Diesing School". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). 26 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Young Wet'suwet'en artist making a name for herself". Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). 5 August 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Nakkita Trimble is reviving almost-lost Nisga'a tattooing practices to help youth anchor themselves". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). 5 November 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  12. ^ a b Premier, Office of the (2012-10-12). "2012 B.C. First Nations' Art Awards Announced | BC Gov News". news.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  13. ^ a b c Bogstie, Ben (Feb 24, 2021). "Tahltan-Tlingit master carver Dempsey Bob wins national art award".
  14. ^ a b "Freda Diesing student art show on now". Terrace Standard. 2013-11-30. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  15. ^ a b "2018 Fulmer Awards in First Nations Art". First Nations Drum. 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  16. ^ a b "Two Terrace artists receive YVR Art Foundation scholarship". Terrace Standard. 2019-06-13. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  17. ^ a b Hsu, Katherine (June 10, 2019). "Celebrating YVR Art Foundation Scholarship Recipients".
  18. ^ a b "Skeena Voices | Teaching, learning and staying humble". Terrace Standard. 2021-10-30. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  19. ^ a b "Jessica McCallum-Miller to receive Lieutenant Governor's Medal". Terrace Standard. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  20. ^ "CMTN's Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art holds annual exhibit". Terrace Standard. 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  21. ^ Binny Paul (2022-01-31). "Human rights complaint filed against City of Terrace, mayor, councillor". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  22. ^ Follett Hosgood, Amanda (12 Jul 2021). "'It Was to Silence Me': Former Terrace Councillor Tells Her Story".
  23. ^ Partridge, Kate (11 Sep 2023). "City apologizes to former B.C. councillor for the systemic racism that led to her resignation".
  24. ^ Spencer, Sabrina. "Artist selected to carve new Haisla Bridge Totem Pole". CFNR Network. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  25. ^ Wilson, Lee (5 August 2019). "Young Wet'suwet'en artist making a name for herself". APTN.

External links[edit]

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