Curve! Women Carvers on the Northwest Coast

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Dale Campbell, “Woman who Brought the Salmon,” 2021

alder, abalone and pigment (Collection of Dana Claxton) (courtesy of the Audain Art Museum)

Curve! Women Carvers on the Northwest Coast is an exhibition that seeks to celebrate and elevate the contributions of women in an often traditionally male-dominated field. By showcasing the works of influential artists like Ellen Neel and Freda Diesing, alongside the voices of senior, mid-career, and emerging artists, this exhibition’s objective is to empower women within the Northwest Coast art community and contribute significantly to the broader understanding of indigenous art traditions.

Co-curated by Dana Claxton and Curtis Collins, the Curve! exhibition will shed light on a lesser-explored facet of Northwest Coast art—women’s contributions to the rich tradition of carving wood and argillite.

The exhibition will feature over 125 works of art that include poles, panels, masks, bowls, and other sculptures all intertwined with traditional knowledge. These works will be on loan from public and private collections across Canada and the United States. The exhibition will focus on a selection of carvers active from the 1950s to present day, highlighting the pivotal role of women artists within the larger tradition of indigenous carving along the coast of British Columbia.

Ellen Neel, Freda Diesing, and Doreen Jensen, three iconic Northwest Coast artists, serve as historic context for this exhibition. Their contributions paved the way for subsequent generations of carvers and left an indelible mark on Northwest Coast art. The exhibition will feature Susan Point, Dale Marie Campbell, and Marianne Nicolson, representing a group of highly accomplished senior artists. Marika Echachis Swan, Morgan Asoyuf, Cori Savard, Stephanie Anderson, Veronica Waechter, Arlene Ness, Cherish Alexander, and Melanie Russ represent mid-career/emerging talents that continue to push carving traditions forward.

Published in conjunction with this sweeping exhibition will be a hard-cover book published by Figure 1 in Vancouver, featuring texts by Dana Claxton, Skeena Reece, and Marika Echachis Swan; and interviews by Curtis Collins with Mary Anne Barkhouse and Dale Campbell. The publication will also provide documentation of over 75 years of artistic production alongside full-colour images of work by the 14 featured artists.