Beau Dick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beau Dick
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Mask by Beau Dick
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| Born | November 23, 1955 Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
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| Died | March 27, 2017 (aged 61) British Columbia, Canada
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| Nationality | Kwakwaka'wakw |
| Education | apprenticeships |
| Known for | woodcarver |
| Movement | Northwest Coast art |
| Awards | VIVA award (2012) |
Beau Dick (born November 23, 1955 – died March 27, 2017) was a famous artist and Chief from the Kwakwaka'wakw First Nation. He lived and worked in Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada. Beau Dick was known for his amazing Northwest Coast art and for being an activist. He was also a hereditary Chief, meaning he inherited his leadership role in the Namgis First Nation. Beau Dick won awards for his art and his work was shown all over the world.
Contents
Early Life and Art Beginnings
Beau Dick was born in Kingcome Inlet, British Columbia. This is a Kwakwaka’wakw village located north of Vancouver Island. When he was six years old, his family moved to Vancouver, BC.
From a young age, Beau was inspired by his grandfather and father. They were both skilled woodcarvers. He even helped them carve one of the world's tallest totem poles in Alert Bay. This early experience helped him learn about traditional carving.
Becoming a Master Artist
When Beau Dick was 17, he started learning from artist Tony Hunt in Victoria. This was like an apprenticeship, where he learned from a master. Later, he moved back to Vancouver. There, he continued to improve his carving skills with the help of Doug Cranmer.
In 1986, Beau Dick was asked to carve a special mask for Expo 86. This was a big world fair held in Vancouver. The Canadian Museum of History bought his mask. You can still see it on display there today. In 1998, he was one of only seven Canadian artists invited to a special event. This event was the reopening of Canada House in London, England. The Prime Minister and Queen Elizabeth II were there.
His artwork has been shown in many international exhibitions. This helped introduce his unique pieces to a wider audience. Beau's art was featured in the 2004 exhibition Supernatural: Beau Dick and Neil Campbell. This show was at the Contemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver. In 2005, his work was part of the "Totems to Turquoise" exhibit. This exhibit was shown in both New York and Vancouver.
In 2009, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection displayed his art. This exhibit was called "Challenging Traditions: Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast." Beau Dick also took part in the 17th Biennale of Sydney in 2010. In 2013, his work was in the Sakahán exhibition. This was at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
The Art of Beau Dick
Beau Dick's art was deeply connected to Kwakwaka'wakw traditions. He used their unique styles and practices in his carvings. His amazing skill and artistry were influenced by old traditional pieces. However, his work was also special because it included modern and Western ideas.
Artist Roy Arden noted that some of Dick's designs reminded him of Japanese anime characters. They also looked like commercial Halloween masks. This shows how he blended different influences. He might use ideas from a European painting or a Japanese Noh mask in his work.
Beau Dick created masks for two main purposes. Some were for special ceremonies in his community. These masks were meant to be danced. Others were made for art collectors. According to Beau Dick, a mask was not fully "activated" until it was danced. He believed that the way light moved over the carved surfaces was a key part of his art. When the masks were danced, it added a deeper meaning to his sculptures.
Activism and Legacy
On February 10, 2013, Beau Dick performed a special ceremony. It was a First Nations copper-cutting ceremony. This took place on the steps of the BC Legislature in Victoria. He did this with other activists, including members of Idle No More. Beau had walked 500 kilometers from Alert Bay to Victoria for this event.
The ceremony aimed to bring attention to important issues. It highlighted how Native treaties were being treated by the government. It also showed the negative effects of commercial fish farms on Vancouver Island. A documentary film was made in 2017 about Beau Dick. It was called Maker of Monsters: The Extraordinary Life of Beau Dick. The film showed Dick and other activists during the copper-cutting ceremony. It also explored his artistic journey.
The copper-cutting ceremony was very significant. It was the first time such a shaming practice had been used by the Kwakwaka'wakw in many decades. Beau Dick explained the meaning of this act:
The copper is a symbol of justice, truth and balance, and to break one is a threat, a challenge and can be an insult. If you break copper on someone and shame them, there should be an apology.
—Beau Dick
Passing and Remembrance
Beau Dick passed away on March 27, 2017. He had experienced a stroke a few months before, which caused his health to decline. A potlatch ceremony was held in his memory in Alert Bay. A potlatch is a traditional feast and ceremony. Beau Dick's artwork was often used in such ceremonies.
Selected Exhibitions
- Supernatural: Neil Campbell and Beau Dick, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, 2004
- Totems to Turquoise, New York and Vancouver, 2005
- Challenging Traditions: Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast, 2009
- 17th Biennale of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 2010
- National Gallery of Canada, Sakahán exhibition, 2013
- "The Box of Treasures: Gifts from the Supernatural, The Bill Reid Gallery, Vancouver BC", 2015
- Lalakenis/All Directions: A Journey of Truth and Unity, Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, 2016
- "Learning From Athens, documenta 14, Athens GR and Kassel DE", 2017
Awards
Beau Dick received the 2012 VIVA award. This award recognizes outstanding artists in British Columbia.
