Hooked on Northwest Coast Native Art

It really happened quite by accident. I was strolling downtown Vancouver’s Georgia Street on a casual summer afternoon when I decided to make an impromptu stop at the Vancouver Art Gallery. I wasn’t much into artistic or cultural exploration at the time … the gallery was just something new to take in. In all honesty, I  didn’t even make it to the exhibits; while perusing the VAG bookstore’s featured offerings section I spied “Spirit Faces“. The book reached out to me and had instant appeal. I was immediately transported to a rich, fantastic, mythic world. In studying my inspired purchase, the cashier enquired whether I had visited the Spirit Wrestler Gallery, curated by the book’s author, Gary Wyatt. Directions in hand, I diligently made my way to Spirit Wrestler. Upon entry, I was greeted to my left by Norman Tait’s monumental Medicine Beaver Mask.  To my right was the ever gracious Gary Wyatt. This place was magical and alive. There was also something very spiritual about it all. I spent the rest of the afternoon talking with Mr. Wyatt. He was more that eager to welcome a new initiate. As I left Spirit Wrestler, I couldn’t escape the fact that my mental landscape had been forever altered. This formative introduction to Northwest Coast Native Art as “Fine Art” – as opposed to curio, artifact, or mere craft – had a profound and lasting impact on me. Needless to say, I became hooked!