Audain Art Museum Hosts Hereditary Haida Chief James Hunt

×

Expand

James Hart, "The Dance Screen (The Scream Too)," 2010-2013

red cedar panel with abalone, mica, acrylic, wire and yew wood, 188" x 127" (photo by Darby Magill)

The inaugural dance of master carver and hereditary Haida Chief James Hart’s The Dance Screen (The Scream Too) will be held Sept. 22 at the Audain Art Museum on the shared territory of the Squamish and Lil’wat nations in Whistler, B.C.

Gallery director Curtis Collins says the ceremony, a traditional performance by Hart and his troupe of Haida dancers wearing ceremonial regalia on loan from the National Gallery of Canada, marks a critical moment.

“This monumental work of art speaks to the strength of traditional First Nations values in a contemporary context,” he says.

Expand

James Hart, "The Dance Screen (The Scream Too)," (detail) 2010-2013

red cedar panel with abalone, mica, acrylic, wire and yew wood, 188" x 127"

The elaborately carved cedar dance screen is unique in both the depth of the carving and the free-standing design. One of Hart’s most important works to date, it represents a strong connection to Haida traditions and emphasizes the fundamental role of the salmon within Haida society and ecosystems.

Both a barrier and a doorway, the work declares the existence of both the spirit realm and the human realm. When danced, the screen will allow for a transition between these two realms. During the inaugural ceremony, spirits represented by masked dancers will emerge through the screen’s doorway, perform and then return to the spirit world.

Hart is from the Delkatla community of Masset, Haida Gwaii.

Source: Audain Art Museum