Dempsey Bob

Dempsey Bob was born in Telegraph Creek, BC in 1948, a member of the Tahltan

band and Wolf Clan of the Tlingit nation and has been exhibiting since the mid 1970's.

He was trained by his family and spent some time at Kitanmaax School in the early 70's

with Kew Mowatt, Vernon Stephens and Walter Harris. He had started training in 1969

with Frieda Diesing. He has held various teaching jobs and artist in residence

appointments.

From Dempsey Bob's web site:

I have been carving alder and cedar for over thirty years, and for the past eight years I have been studying and sculpting bronze (started at Boise

State University). Bronze has a different feel to it. It's new, and it's a challenge to make

it good.

Our people were great sculptors. They knew as much about sculpture as any other

great cultures in the world. The great old northwest coast pieces in wood would make

great bronze sculptures today.

Our art has to evolve otherwise it will die. The old master artists carved bone, copper,

gold, horn, ivory, silver, stone and wood. My great grandfather was a carver, and if he

were carving today he would of "went to town" with all the new tools and materials.

I often wonder where the art would be today if our people did not stop carving for all

those years. We have to make our art real for our people today.

Copyright© 2000-03 Dempsey Bob, Blue Wolfe Arts Ltd.