Jewelry students taught traditional styles

The 2012 Northwest Coastal Jewelry Arts class from Native Education College (NEC) recently graduated and held an exhibition at the Bill Reid Gallery.

The exhibition took place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 9, and featured jewelry made by nine students throughout the seven-month course taught by Nisga’a carver Robert Tait, Norman Tait’s younger brother.

The NEC program is the first of its kind specific to Northwest Coast jewelry, which is unique because Northwest Coast jewelry artists have traditionally learned by working under other artists.
Native design, sculpting, engraving, jewelry making, and even a course on studio management are all part of the curriculum.

The students said they were encouraged throughout the program to pursue the art of their own nations.

“I’ve been told that I should follow the Heiltsuk,” said Frank Wilson, one of the graduates.

“That’s my nation. The Heiltsuk nation.”

Wilson, who is 57, said he didn’t know anything about Aboriginal art before the program despite having artists in his family.

He said he lived on a reserve before being sent to a residential school.

“Being the age that I am now, I didn’t get involved in Native culture,” said Wilson.

“This course has really changed my life because I can really consider myself an artist.”

Wilson said his goal is to get his art into galleries, but first he needs to get a grant to pay for the rest of the tools he needs.
“It’s going to be really tough getting a business together.”

Another student, Burton Amos, already has an art business but joined the program to learn to put metal inlays in his art.

“This is the next step in my artwork,” said 49-year-old Amos, who is half Tsimshian and produces traditional Tsimshian art with a Haisla influence.

“I already carve masks and make prints and stuff.”

Some of the younger students, such as Tara-Lee Gardner, work in a traditional style but add a fresh perspective.

Gardner incorporates animal activism into her work, such as carving “stop fish farming” into a silver bracelet also featuring carvings of traditional salmon.

The Northwest Coast Jewelry Arts program takes in students every April.