Carving a family affair

Page 23

"I always knew I would be an artist, and that I would seriously start doing it when I turned 40."

And that is precisely what silver carver Reg Gladstone of Saanichton, Vancouver Island has done.

That was 18 months ago. He has very recently participated in his successful first show at the Native Heritage Centre in Duncan, B.C.

A West Coast fisherman who works at his art about six months out of the year, Gladstone is "basically self-taught." He was partially influenced by his great-grandfather, one of the original silver carvers of Canada.

"The story is that in the 1800s he took a whaling ship to Spain, where he spent about five years learning his craft. His Salish name was Klamaba, which means the greatest Native artist. His son, my great-uncle Gordon Gladstone, also held this name -

he carved as well.

"I started out watching well known silver carvers, the Lancaster Brothers and the Seaweeds.

"Now, I'm very, very busy. I work in my kitchen and in my father-in-law's basement. There's silver filings everywhere - in our socks, everywhere."

Gladstone carves Native designs on silver and gold bracelets, rings, earrings, pins, tie clips and whatever else his customers request.

He feels Native art is becoming more popular, but for him, something else is needed. He feels it will soon be time to expand, change his art.

"I have a friend who says there has to be a change in the Native art.

It has to become more contemporary, somehow. I think he is right. Something is brewing, for me."

He's not sure what form this new art will take. For now, he will continue to enjoy his work until further vision directs him.