Tag Archives: Doug

MOA Shop Showcase: William Wasden Jr.

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By Matthew Willis and Meghan Price

photo taken by Ariel Kwan

The MOA Shop has been brining in more prints and artwork related to the Kesu’ exhibit (which just opened on Friday!). Today, the MOA Shop is show casing the work of William Wasden Jr. His full name is William Hilamas Edward Wasden Jr. Wakanalagalis “The-River-Flows-Through-Him-Forever” and like Doug Cranmer, he is from Alert Bay. William, a member of the ‘Namgis,  is a Hereditary Chief on both his mother’s and father’s side and a descendent of the Cook, Wanukw, Hunt, Alfred, Harris and Inis families.

photo taken by Ariel Kwan

At the age of twelve, his mother enrolled him in one of Doug Cranmer’s art classes where he would later learn and study under his cousin Beau Dick and Haida artist Don Yeoman. Along with visual artwork, William has a passion for singing and for preserving the songs of his people. He has been groomed by the late Chief Tom Willie and wife Elise to be a song keeper and composer for Kwawaka’wakw ceremony and

everyday enjoyment. William  leads the ‘Gwa’wina Dancers Cultural Society’, a professional dance troupe that often represents the ‘Namgis Nation. The group keeps and practises authentic Kwakwa?ka?’wakw culture and teachings in a respectful and dignified way for people all over British Columbia.

While his music is not available at the gift shop at this time, please come by and see his prints (displayed here)!

photo taken by Ariel Kwan

Here is a video documenting William’s life and career. It also gives some excellent insight to Alert Bay and the traditions and artists that it creates. http://www.bebo.com/c/video?FlashBoxId=4224284635

MOA Shop Showcase: Kesu’ Prints

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By Matthew Willis and Meghan Price

On March 16th, MOA will open the greatly anticipated exhibit on Doug Cranmer, Kesu’: The Art and Life of Doug Cranmer. Cranmer was a prolific artist who “whittled” and “doodled” in carving and painting in the Northwest Coast  Kwakwaka’wakw style. Dr. Jennifer Kramer, the curator of the exhibit, has already released her book on Doug Cranmer which can be found in the MOA shop, but the MOA shop plans to have prints and images of Cranmer’s work for you to take home with you.

Right now, as of March 16th, the following two prints will be available:

Photo courtesy of Royal British Columbia Museum. RBCM 16635. Canoe by Doug Cranmer

Canoe originates from Doug’s series of abstract paintings and was selected to become this limited edition print. “Although Doug completed many of his paintings in one or two days, Canoe was the product of a lengthier and more meticulous process” (Kramer, Jennifer. The Art and Life of Doug Cranmer. University of Washington Press: 2012. p. 90).  The print incorporates multiple views of the same canoe- including that of the log from which it was carved.  Fah Ambers, who observed Doug paint Canoe said that “he had that thing right down to scale where you could take that print, if you had the guts to, and cut it up and actually make a canoe out if it”.

Photo courtesy of Royal British Columbia Museum. RBCM 16325. Untitled Painting by Doug Cranmer, referred to as "Ravens in Nest".

Ravens in Nest originates from the latter half of a series of Cranmer’s abstract paintings. Raven’s in Nest has become an iconic abstract “in which the referent remained identifiable to those who

wanted to see it” (Kramer, 90).  The original painting, along with several others from the series, was chosen over time to be reproduced as limited-edition prints.

Expect to see more MOA Shop showcases about prints and images of Doug Cranmer’s work because there is surely more to come.