Blog
Native Wedding Bands
Lattimer Gallery has long been known for facilitating the creation of gold and white gold wedding bands, for locals and visitors alike. Created in a variety of widths and sizes, rings are custom-made to meet all of the specifics requested by our customers. Hand-engraved with crest symbols from Northwest Coast cultures - such as Raven, Eagle, and Orca - our wedding bands are incredibly unique and personal.All that we require to begin your custom ring order is ring size, design preference, and material preference. The majority of Native wedding bands are carved in 14k gold, which provides both the necessary durability and richness of colour for a wedding band that will last a lifetime. Please check the gold jewellery section of our website to see a selection of available rings and artists that we represent. Artists such as Ivan Thomas (Nuu-chah-nulth), Kelvin Thompson (Ojibway), Alvin Adkins (Haida), Landon Gunn (Kwakwaka'wakw/Metis), and Jim McGuire (Haida) are some of the carvers that we regularly order gold bands from.
The image to the left is a 'Frog' ring in 14k gold by Landon Gunn.
Posted on 19 August 2010 | 3:51 pm
The Totem Pole - Exhaustive New Book
Long-time curator Aldona Jonaitis and researcher Aaron Glass have teamed up to produce a dense, thorough examination of the Northwest Coast totem pole. This new book is titled The Totem Pole: An Intercultural History. At 344 pages, and containing sections with titles such as 'Contemporary Cultural Tourism and Ethnokitsch', this publication is academic in nature and is not recommended for the Northwest Coast art novice. It is, however, a wonderful resource for those familiar with and interested in this iconic cultural creation. It is available from Lattimer Gallery.Here is the description from the dustjacket: "The totem pole is immensely important to Northwest Coast people while holding a place in popular culture from fashion to the funny pages. This book describes and pictures its place since Europeans first arrived on the scene, its spread from the Northwest Coast to World's Fairs and global theme parks, and the part these carvings have played in Native struggles for control of their cultures and their lands."
Posted on 7 August 2010 | 5:00 pm
Steve Smith Ball Cap
We featured a new and modern yellow cedar panel by Steve Smith in our recent Summer 2010 Newsletter, and we were happy to receive this work shortly after we received the panel. Embellished with Steve's trademark designs, this baseball cap is an exceptional example of how Steve continues to challenge the meaning and understanding of Northwest Coast Native art. To quote Steve from our Summer 2010 Newsletter:"When working on any piece of art, my main objective is to create something different than what we know or recognize as Northwest Coast Native art. Incorporating designs where one might not expect to see them or filling spaces with atypical elements are just a few ways of doing that."
Posted on 21 July 2010 | 3:29 pm
Challenging Traditions in Abbotsford
'Challenging Traditions: Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast' is a recent exhibition organized by Ian Thom, who is currently a senior curator at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The show, which originally opened at Ontario's McMichael Gallery in June of 2009, is comprised of over seventy contemporary artworks that have been assembled to demonstrate some of the current, complex trends taking place within Native art on the West Coast.'Challenging Traditions' has been travelling through the US and Europe, and it is now in BC! The show will be running at The Reach Gallery in Abbotsford until October 3, 2010. The exhibition features more than forty artists, including artists that Lattimer Gallery has always represented, such as Phil Gray, Jay Simeon, Alano Edzerza and Steve Smith. We are now carrying the beautiful and extensive catalogue for the show, which can be found on our website.
Posted on 14 July 2010 | 5:48 pm
Clint Work 'Asteroid' Panel
Kwakwaka'wakw artist Clint Work continues his meteoric progression with the completion of this recent red cedar panel titled '253 Mathtilde - Asteroid'. The abstract design is open to interpretation, and we have generated several explanations. One involves the panel's imagery reflecting objects and elements that the asteroid sees on Earth while passing by the Northwest Coast...the design is a snapshot of life seen at the second that the asteroid flies by.Clint consolidated this concept of a 'Asteroid' design by creatively finishing the panel with carbon, one of the most common elements in the universe. The carbon provides this panel with a dark, near metallic sheen, resembling cast bronze. It is priced at $2,200.00 CAD and measures 24" in diameter.
Posted on 10 July 2010 | 2:53 pm
Earl Muldon - Order of Canada
Lattimer Gallery has been promoting and carrying the work of prolific Gitksan artist Earl Muldon for over twenty years. Having carved innumerable totem poles, created the monumental entrance doors for Vancouver's Museum of Anthropology (with several other renowned Gitksan artists), and lead a restoration project for the Gitanyow (Kitwancool) Hereditary Chiefs, Earl has an endless number of accomplishments under his belt...and he is still creating wonderful works. In fact, Lattimer Gallery featured a wonderful Birch mask by Earl in our Spring 2010 Newsletter. Earl recently won the Lifetime Achievement Award for Aboriginal Art from the provincial government's Achievement Foundation. In June of this year, he also received membership to the exclusive Order or Canada, becoming one of the few Northwest Coast artists to ever receive this award. We are happy to see Earl gain some much deserved recognition. While Earl is still carving wood occasionally, we mainly carry his popular silver and gold jewellery. Please check our website to see the pieces we have available.
Posted on 2 July 2010 | 1:00 pm
Sea to Sky Cultural Signage
BC’s famous Sea-to-Sky Highway, which connects Vancouver with Squamish, Whistler and Lillooet, has recently been embellished with informative signage and kiosks describing the Lil’wat-Squamish land that the road runs through. In addition to seven information kiosks, there will be seven smaller engraved panels at seven other pullouts along the highway with information about the Squamish Nation's history and its people. This project was included in the 2010 Olympic Games Legacy Project.Take note of these new additions next time you are driving down the highway…but keep your eyes on the road!
Posted on 25 June 2010 | 4:43 pm
Summer Newsletter
Please take a look at our most recent newsletter.It features an in-depth write-up on a new yellow cedar panel by Kwakwaka'wakw artist, Steve Smith, as well as new works by Haisla carver Nathan Wilson, Kwakwaka'wakw artist Rande Cook, and innovative Haida/Blackfoot artist Jay Simeon.
Lattimer Gallery's newsletter comes out every quarter. Subscription is available on our 'Newsletter' webpage.
Posted on 12 June 2010 | 3:21 pm
James Michels Mini Bentboxes
Lattimer Gallery has been carrying the work of carver and bentwood box-maker, James Michels, for over a decade. His wood-working skills, clean carving, and experience with steam-bending have resulted in his status as a popular and respected Northwest Coast artist in the Vancouver art market.James is also known for creating the world's smallest bentwood boxes. Measuring 3/4" x 1/2" x 1/2" and made with both red and yellow cedar, these boxes are made using traditional methods, and are very time-consuming to create. While we try to have them in stock all of the time, they sell quickly. Lattimer Gallery can, however, order these extraordinary and amusing sculptures from James. Prices range from $100.00-$200.00 CAD.
Posted on 24 May 2010 | 6:23 pm
Ernest Swanson 'Octopus' Pendant
Haida artist Ernest Swanson recently brought us an outstanding argillite pendant. Complete with detailed tentacles, abalone inlays and a sterling silver bezel-setting, this piece is a great example of Ern's recent work. This piece is unique because Ern has carved an Octopus figure out of argillite but has also engraved an Octopus figure on the back of the bezel. This piece is currently available for $2,400.00 CAD.In 2009, Ernest graduated from the Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts Program, which was held at Vancouver's Native Education College. In addition to jewellery and argillite, Ern also carves wood and has worked with his cousin, celebrated Haida carver Jim Hart.
Posted on 18 May 2010 | 7:24 pm
