Haida Artist Bill Reid

The royal canadian mint launched commemorative coins tuesday to honour haida artist bill reid.

Haida artist bill reid.

Bill reid was canada s most renowned contemporary native northwest coast haida artist. But who was bill reid and how did someone who referred to himself as a maker of things rather than an artist or activist invigorate the visual language of the haida nation. This coin is a gorgeous tribute to bill. Bill reid was born in victoria bc on january 12 1920 and passed away from parkinson s disease on march 13 1998 in vancouver b c.

Bill reid was also a descendant of the great haida carver and silversmith charles edenshaw. Let s start from the beginning. Bill reid s name is synonymous with west coast indigenous art haida art in particular and a new gallery exhibition is paying homage to the influence of the esteemed sculptor and goldsmith who. A visionary artist bill reid 1920 1998 is often credited with bringing haida culture to the attention of the whole world.

Bill reid 1920 1998 was an acclaimed master goldsmith carver sculptor writer broadcaster mentor and community activist. Reid was born in victoria bc to a haida mother and an american father with scottish german roots and only began exploring his haida roots at the age of 23. He was a master carver sculptor and goldsmith and was also a broadcaster and writer. Reid spent much of his life reviving haida art techniques and heritage and became a member of the royal canadian academy of arts.

This journey of discovery lasted a lifetime and shaped reid s artistic career. Some of his major works were featured on the canadian 20 banknote of the canadian journey series 2004 2012. Bill reid lived from 1920 to 1998 and the coins are being released on the 100th anniversary of his birth. He was known as a champion of haida culture and is often credited with helping the nation s art style reach the level of popularity it sees today.

William ronald reid jr. Obc rca 12 january 1920 13 march 1998 haida was a canadian artist whose works include jewelry sculpture screen printing and paintings. Bill did not elect to study art in high school but he did recall a young substitute teacher jack shadbolt who read poetry and introduced kandinsky style drawing to his class of 8th graders. Working in many mediums he was a master goldsmith sculptor and writer.

He was born to two loving parents an american father of scottish and german descent and a haida mother.