Tag Archives: Jennifer Kramer

Why is Doug Cranmer featured at MOA?

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By Kate Petrusa

As an Anthropology graduate student very new to the world of museums, I didn’t have the slightest idea how much thought and intention goes into selecting and curating exhibits.  Starting March 17, 2012, MOA is presenting Kesu’: The Art and Life of Doug Cranmer, showing Doug’s impact on Northwest Coast art and artists. So significant was his impact that, after his passing in 2006, a large group of family, friends, and community members worked hard raising money and generating ideas in order to recognize Doug. Together, they laid the groundwork that has brought the Kesu’ exhibition and book to fruition, with the enthusiastic help of MOA.

“Courtesy of the Audrey & Harry Hawthorn Library & Archives, UBC Museum of Anthropology.” MOA AOO2294C. by Vickie Jensen. MOA AOO2294C

 

Doug’s influences as an artist, mentor and cultural leader are extensive. He taught a number of well-known Northwest Coast artists, including Bruce Alfred and Beau Dick (Kramer 2012). In 1962-63, with Bill Reid, Doug restored the Wa’kas pole originally from Kwakwaka’wakw territory and now at Stanley Park (Kramer 2012: 32). He carved five major pieces at Expo ’86, helping to put Northwest Coast art on the international art map (Kramer 2012: 55). Doug and his students also assisted with the building of the U’mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay, BC, a facility dedicated to the survival of cultural heritage of the Kwakwaka?wakw people (U’mista Cultural Society 2011).

“Courtesy of the Audrey & Harry Hawthorn Library & Archives, UBC Museum of Anthropology.” MOA AOO1990C. Photo by Vickie Jensen

 

In 2006, a young ’Namgis carver, Rande Cook, visited Doug and asked permission to create a retrospective of his work. Five months later, Doug passed away from lung cancer, and Rande began the project with the help of Doug’s family, friends, and fellow artists. By organizing an art auction at Victoria’s Empress Hotel on April 7, 2007, they raised significant funds selling donated art (two pieces sold to MOA), and put these funds towards realizing Doug’s retrospective, now embodied in the Kesu’ exhibit and the accompanying book (Kramer 2012: 117).

With funds to jump-start the exhibition, three women stepped in to sustain this project: Vivien Cranmer, Doug’s wife; Gloria Cranmer Webster, Doug’s eldest sister; and Dr. Jennifer Kramer, MOA Curator. Vivien worked to secure MOA as the place to host the exhibition, arranged interviews, and tracked down Doug’s art from private collections. Gloria provided invaluable insights into Doug’s personal life growing up in Alert Bay, contributed one-of-a-kind family photographs, and imparted expert knowledge

concerning Doug’s cultural leadership (Kramer 2012: 125). Jennifer synthesized many hours of interview transcripts, historical data, personal anecdotes, and diverse perspectives to bring forth a concise and integrated picture of who Doug Cranmer is.

The efforts of so many contributors to the Kesu’ exhibition and book demonstrate the extent to which Doug Cranmer was truly a remarkable and unforgettable artist, mentor, friend, and community member. Come take a closer look!

Upcoming Kesu’ Book

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By Samantha Schmidt

Our upcoming exhibit, Kesu’: The Art and Life of Doug Cranmer, focuses on locally and internationally renowned artist, Doug Cranmer. The exhibit is enhanced by a recently published book by the same name, by MOA Curator and Assistant Professor, Jennifer Kramer. (Join us on at Tuesday, February 14 from 4-5 pm to help celebrate the launch of the book!) This is the first publication to consider Doug’s contributions to the international art world and the regional community. It is organized into five chapters, each of which examines a unique aspect of Doug’s personality as reflected in his life and work. Kramer uses interviews with Doug’s friends, family, students, and acquaintances to try to pinpoint a man who was never comfortable with labels. Through the text and many full-color photographs,  Kramer helps us understand how Doug may be seen as perhaps the first truly ‘indigenous modern’ artist.

“Whether you are keen on Northwest Coast Kwakwaka’wakw art or new to this engaging topic, it is a great addition to any library. You can

pick up the book at local bookstores, or in the MOA Shop, when you stop to visit the show, which runs from March 17 through September 3, 2012. A list of talks and tours associated with the book and exhibit can be found at www.moa.ubc.ca/events.

Mosquito. This limited-edition print entitled Mosquito was given as a gift to those who attended the raising of the “New Generation” replica Wa’kas pole in Stanley Park, Vancouver, 1987. 55.5 × 37.7 cm. Collection of Phil Nuytten; photo by Ken Mayer. Page 80.