Kwakiutl (statue) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kwakiutl(statue) |
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| Artist | Simon Charlie |
| Year | 1972 |
| Type | cedar wood |
| Dimensions | 270 cm (108 in) |
| Location | Chinguacousy Park greenhouse, Brampton, Ontario, Canada |
| 43°43′22.19″N 79°43′16.25″W / 43.7228306°N 79.7211806°W | |
| Owner | City of Brampton |
The Kwakiutl statue is a tall, wooden sculpture made by a famous Indigenous Canadian artist named Simon Charlie. It stands about 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and is carved from cedar wood. Simon Charlie, also known as Hwunumetse', was later honored with the Order of Canada, which is a very important award in Canada.
About the Artist: Simon Charlie
Simon Charlie was a talented sculptor from the Cowichan Tribes. These tribes are part of the larger Coast Salish peoples group. He was known for his amazing carvings, especially totem poles and welcome figures.
His artwork was shown at big events like Expo 67, a world's fair held in Montreal. For this event, he helped carve a totem pole and a "welcome figure." He worked with other artists from the Kwakwakaʼwakw (Kwakiutl) people.
In 1971, Simon Charlie was one of many carvers chosen for a special project. They carved totems for the 100th birthday of British Columbia. These totems were given to other parts of Canada. Simon Charlie's art was collected and shown all over the world. He had already received the Canadian Centennial Medal for his work.
Creating the Kwakiutl Statue
The Kwakiutl statue was made for a new town hall in Chinguacousy Township. This area was growing quickly at the time. Simon Charlie was asked to create a special piece of art for the building.
The statue shows an Indigenous man. The name Kwakiutl refers to a specific First Nations tribe from the Pacific Northwest coast. The man in the statue wears a wide-brimmed hat, typical of the Kwakwaka'wakw people. He also wears a cape. The entire sculpture is made from strong cedar wood.
