Robert Davidson

In the mid-60's Tony Hunt and Roy Vickers started the tradition of Northwest Coastal Indian silk-screen printing, serigraphs. The early prints were based upon traditional flat designs from low relief wood carvings. The designs were placed in the middle of rectangular prints. In 1968 Robert Davidson, a Haida carver born in 1946, started making prints in the traditional style. By the 1970's he began producing semi-abstract
designs and started to fill in the whole space of the print. Over time his designs become very abstract and used advanced printing technology. The prints were often made for potlatches and family life announcements, or for artistic experimentation. Although Davidson was born in Massett, a Haida village, it was not until he was a teenager did he realize that he was an Indian. After seeing some Haida art work in Vancouver museums, he realized that art was a way back into his heritage. In 1976 he met Bill Reid. Reid was part Haida and had discovered his own heritage in the arts before becoming a major contributor to the returning of the traditional arts to the present generation. Both shared a common relative, the famous artist, Charles Edenshaw (great
grandfather to Davidson and great uncle to Reid). As Davidson grew artistically, he built upon Reid's traditional style and began to experiment with the language of the Haida style. Davidson also wanted to return the heritage to the community and actively worked on restoring ceremonies to the community. He formed a dance group, the Rainbow Creek Dancers with his brother, Reg, to perform at these ceremonies. Robert's father
belonged to the Shark( dogfish) lineage and the dogfish is an important element in his art. The frog is also a common element in his artwork because the frog, a crest of Charles Edenshaw's, was his spiritual helper. With the growth in monumental commissions in the 80's, Davidson began exploring works in bronze and he has excelled in that medium. He has been in many group and solo exhibitions, including a major retrospective, "Eagle of the Dawn," at the Vancouver Art Museum Gallery in 1993 and the Canadian Museum of Civilization in 1994. He has received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award and the Order of Canada. Recently Davidson collaborated with Susan Point for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Eagle of the Dawn is the translation of his Haida name, Guud San Glans.