Charlie James
Kwakwaka'wakw
Gilford Island, British Columbia
7 1/2"W x 9 1/2"H
Charlie James, a famous Northwestern artist born in 1870 and died in 1938. Known for his revitalization of the Kwakwaka wakw (Kwakiutl) style. He was Mungo Martin’s stepfather, and eventually guided Martin into the NW Coastal Art scene, acting as his mentor and expanding his learning of the arts in general. Martin went on to become one of the first traditional artists to deal with many types of Northwest Coast sculptural and painting styles. He carved his first commissioned totem pole in Alert Bay c1900, and titled it Raven of the Sea.