Story by Katherine Fawcett
The smooth wood, brilliant colours, bold lines, and soft curves of the carvings in the current exhibition at the Audain Art Museum (AAM) tell stories like secrets whispered by a beloved grandmother or auntie. The works of art have a depth, complexity, and an almost mystical quality that demands you listen carefully.
Curve! Women Carvers on the Northwest Coast is a deep dive into the work of West Coast women carvers. Strolling through the gallery, I was mesmerized. Perhaps it’s because women carvers have been long overlooked in the “art world” that I felt a sense of wisdom and patience in these pieces. But there is also a sense of urgency in the work. See me! Hear me! I’m alive. I’m unstoppable!
Co-curated by Dana Claxton, renowned artist and 2023 Audain Prize winner, and Curtis Collins, AAM Director and Chief Curator, Curve! brings together 127 contributions from 14 Indigenous women carvers from Canada’s Northwest Coast.
Some pieces rely on tradition, while others mix past and present in fascinating ways. I couldn’t take my eyes off “Wild Woman of the Woods,” the unpainted carved masks of the late Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw artist Ellen Neel. Haida artist Cori Savard’s striking yellow cedar panels and Gitwangak artist Cherish Alexander’s contemporary alder masks with horsehair are among my favourite pieces.
Nuu-chah-nulth artist Marika Swan conducted extensive interviews with the participating artists in preparation for this exhibition. Parts of these interviews — the artists’ own words — are presented on panels beside their work. I particularly enjoyed reading about the artists’ lives, influences, and processes.
“Carving is about understanding the woods and grains and how they move,” Swan said at the exhibit’s opening reception. “Carving is understanding how each curve meets the next to create a seamless flow of face and shape and creature and story.”
Curve! is a phenomenal cultural experience and a must-see exhibition that celebrates the traditions, innovation, joy, and passion of female artists. Don’t miss it.
Curve! Women Carvers on the Northwest Coast is at the Audain Art Museum (AAM) until May 5.
