**Originally Listed At $4000**

Simon Dick (First Nations Canadian, Kwakwaka'wakw, b. 1951) "Grouse Mask," ca. 2006 CE. A beautiful hand carved red cedar wood mask by Simon Dick, with cedar bark and feathers cascading from the top and sides. The grouse mask is used in Atlakim ceremony and dance that summon forest spirits. The Atlakim dancers recreate the story of a young outcast boy that went into the forest to catch a grouse to impress his family. The captured grouse was a guardian spirit and summoned the various forest creatures to sing and dance, teaching and guiding the boy. The interior is signed by the artist with his hereditary name "Tanis" and the year. Size: 10" L x 10" W x 19" H (25.4 cm x 25.4 cm x 48.3 cm); bark tassels add approximately: 12" L (30.5 cm)

Simon Dick was born in an isolated coastal village in British Columbia. During his early childhood years, he lived the traditional lifestyle of his Kwicksutaineuk and Nax was dawx ancestors, learning teachings of his elders in the Kwakwaka'wakw dialect, in which he is fluent. He was initiated into the Hamatsa secret society when he became an adolescent. In 1964 his family moved to Alert Bay on the coast of Vancouver Island when Dick was in this teens. There he learned from master carvers, in particular apprenticing to Chief Tony Hunt Sr. - a renowned Kwakwak'wakw artist - at the Arts of the Raven gallery in Victoria British Columbia for four years. Dick is a world renowned master carver and works in other media as well including textiles and silver. Simon's life work and art has always been focused on the preservation of his culture. According to the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver: "My interest in traditional carving goes way back. As a child our house was less than 100 feet from a 40-foot pole carved for the memory of King George VI. The Thunderbird on the top was carved by Willie Seaweed of Blunden Harbour. I would stare at this beautiful monument and dream that someday I may acquire the gift to carve like my ancestors. I would visit carvers in their homes and ask questions about certain characters. I would visit Dick Hawkins, Art Lagis, Charlie Willie, Jack James...they were all such wonderful teachers. In later years, moving to Alert Bay, I witnessed the construction of a traditional ceremonial house. I was greatly influenced by the guidance of Chief James Sewid, Henry Speck, James Dick, Charlie George and Blackie Dick, and so many more. In my early twenties, I apprenticed under Tony Hunt for four years in Victoria. I also studied under Sam Henderson of Campbell River. Many of my mentors have gone before me, and now it is my turn to continue on my journey, to carve, sing and dance."

Provenance: private Thornton, Colorado, USA collection, purchased from Inuit Gallery of Vancouver, Vancouver, BC, Canada, February 21, 2007

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#181813

Excellent. Minor scuffs to the surface but intact. Signed by artist on interior.