artists' galleries

Lyle Wilson

Lyle Wilson : Kitamaat Haisla Artist

Juhchwin Wawes: Photo By: Bill McLennan 2008 Yellow Cedar Platter: 14 3/4"

Lyle Wilson is a Haisla artist from Kitamaat Village; which is near townsite of Kitamaat, British Columbia, Canada. The Haisla people are often referred to as Northern Kwakuitl, however their historic artistic style is, mainly, influenced by the Kwakuitl, Tsimshian, Bella Bella and Bella Coola. The name Kitamaat means "People of the Snow" --- referring to the large amount of snow there. Tsimshian guests who visited the Haisla in mid-winter arrived to see people emerging from big houses that were completely buried by the snow. Thus, the name Kitamaat was given to the Haisla.

The Haisla Clan system is matrilineal and, although he was born into the Beaver Clan, Lyle was formally adopted into his father's Eagle Clan. Due to high death rates at that time, his Eagle grandmother adopted both Lyle and his sister to bolster the numbers of the Eagle Clan.

Awjeegays: Photo By: Lyle Wilson 1994: Miniture paddle 4 1/4" x 3/4"

 

 

 

 

 

Lyle was always aware of and appreciative of Haisla art --- seeing a few old carvings at village events. His first artistic influence was his uncle Sam --- a full time carver who carved at the time when everyone assumed Pacific Northwest Coast carving was consigned to the past. Lyle watched him and occasionally whittled the best of his ability. He did no pursue art as  a possible profession until he attended the University of British Columbia. At this time he enrolled, and completed 5 years of the N.I.T.E.P. and Art Education programs. He found time in the studio more compelling and eventually pursued his artistic interests at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design. He graduated with a Print-Making Diploma and began to develop his individual artistic style. This style has its roots in graphics but the concepts learned from all his life experiences --- including his formal education --- is to be seen in his three dimensional works in wood and jewellery.

Lyle also prefers working by himself, believing that the individual personality shows itself in the finished work --- thus he is reluctant to involve others in his artistic projects unless absolutely necessary. Even his larger carving are mostly his own efforts.

Soul Of Kwahalas: Photo By: Bill McLennan 2007: Yellow Cedar with Abalone 16" x 9"

Lyle is one of the few Pacific Northwest Coast artist to have an extensive formal, post-secondary education. He considers himself a life-long student and carver who has numerous areas that enrich the way he looks at the world and, by extension, the work he produces.

Lyle Wilson

Tel: 778-846-3520

Old Style Spirit Canoe: Photo By: Bill McLennan 2002: Acrylic Paint on Red Cedar 38" x 7" x 8"

---- Selected Group & Solo Exhibitions ----

2009: Challenging Traditions : Contemporary First Nations

Art of the Northwest Coast.

McMichael Museum of Canadian Art, Ontario

 

2009: North Star : The Art of Lyle Wilson

Solo Show, West Vancouver Musuem, West Vancouver, BC

 

2004: Totems to Turquoise

American Museum of Natural History, New York

 

2003: Northwest Coast Collections

Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC

 

2001: Raven Stories

Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC

 

2001: Northwest Innovations: Transforming Traditions

Evergreen Cultural Centre Art Gallery, Coquitlam, BC

  

2000: Time & Tide

Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC

 

1999: Arrows of the Spirit

Mengei International Museum, San Deigo, California

 

1999: Prints on the Horizon

Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC

 

1998: Transitions

Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver, BC

 

1997: Enduring Vision

Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC

 

1997: Redefining Tradition: A Selection of First Nations Artist and Their Work

Whatcom Museum, Washington 

 

1997 & 1996: Jewelry of the Northwest Coast

Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC

 

1992: Seattle International Art Fair

Los Angeles, California

 

1990: Painted Drums of the Northwest Coast

Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC 

 

1989 - 1991: When Worlds Collide

Solo Show which opened in Vancouver at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC; exhibition then travelled to the Kitimat Centennial Museum, Kwagiulth Museum, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Edmonton Art Gallery, Woodland Cultural Centre, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Nickels Art Museum, Steiacoom Tribal Cultural Centre, Castlegar Native Education Centre.

 

1989: Masks: An Exhibition of Northwest Coast Native Masks

Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC

 

1989: First Nations Art of the Oceans

Exhibit at the Canada - Japan Bilatreal Symposium, Vancouver, BC

 

1989: Beyond the Revival: Contemporary Northwest Native Art

Charles H. Scott Gallery, Vancouver, BC

 

1988: The Transforming Image: Painted Arts of the Northwest Coast

Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Vancouver, BC

 

1986: What Is Native American Art?

Vancouver, BC 

 

1986: International Works on Paper

London Ontario Regional Art Gallery, Ontario

 

1981: Native American Arts '81

Philbrook Art Centre, Tulsa

 

1980: Northwest Renaissance

Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, BC

 

---- Public Commisions ----

2007: "Orca Chief"

~ 19 ft - 17 ft, water-jet cut, powder painted, 3/4 inch layered aluminum wall sculpture at the Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver, BC

 

1999: 1) "Killer Whale"

        2) "Dance for the First Catch"

        3) "Coast Scene", (4 Panels)

~ 6 ft. - 9 ft. canvas screens at the  Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Vancouver, BC

 

1995: "The Paddler"

~ 10 ft. red cedar totem pole sculpture at the BC Sports Hall of Fame, Vancouver, BC

 

1994: "Eagle, Fish & Beaver"

~ 12 ft. red cedar totem pole sculpture, Canadian Consulate @ Osaka, Japan

 

1993: 1) "Noomis, The Blind Man"

        2) "The Loon"

        3) "Salmon"

        4) "Salmon"

        5) "Grizzly Bear"

~ 5 high relief carved, yellow cedar panels @ the Canadian Institute for the Blind, Vancouver, BC

 

1992: "Grizzly Bear Dancer"

~ Motor animated transformation mask with costume for BC Pavilion @ Expo 1992, Seville, Spain

~ Now on display at the University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC.

 

1992: "Eagle & Beaver"

~ 12 ft. Red Cedar house-post sculpture at the UBC First Nations House of Learning, Vancouver, BC

 

---- Related Projects ----

1995: "Haisla House-Post"

~ 6 ft. Red Cedar replicated carving of old artifact at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC ---- artist donated the carving to the Haisla Community School, Kitamaat Village, BC.

 

1992: "Eulachon: A Fish to Cure Humanity"

~ Co-curated this catalogued exhibition documenting the historical and contemporary usage of the eulachon fish; opened at the UBC Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, BC

 

1988: "Image Recovery Project"

~Using an infra-red camera, historical images were photographed, archived and replicated; this is the intesive documentation of painted images of historical work undertaken to this date.

 

1987: "Northwest Coast Traditional Longhouse Project"

~Assistant Co-ordinator/Liason for the planning, building of 6 different Northwest Coast Longhouses at the UBC Museum of Anthropology; the longhouses were installed at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Quebec

Boxwood Broach: Photo By: Bill McLennan Boxwood Broach After Old Salish Spindle Whorl 2"

---- Education ----

 

1987: 5th year, Secondary Art Education

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.

 

1988 Graduated in Print-making,

Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Vancouver, BC.

 

1976 - 1979: Native Indian Teacher Education Program,

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.

 

---- Publications ----

 

2010: "The Totem Pole: An Intercultural History"

Aldona Jonaitis & Aaron Glass.

 

2004: "Totems to Turquoise: Native North American Jewellery arts of the Northwest and Southwest.

Kari Chalker, Lois S. Dubin, Peter M. Whitely; eds.

 

2002: "The Persistence of Craft"

Paul Greenhalgh, Editor.

 

2000: "The Transforming Image: Painted Arts of the Northwest Coast First Nations"

Bill McLennan and Karen Duffek.

 

1999: "Objects and Expressions: Celebrating the Collections of the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia"

Various authors; Jennifer Webb, editor.

 

1999: "Mythic Beings: Spirit Art of the Northwest Coast"

Gary Wyatt

 

1999: "North American Indian Art and Adornment:

Lois Sherr Dubin.

 

1997: "Ornament and Object: Canadian Jewellary and Metal Art"

Anna Barros.

 

1994: "Spirit Faces: Contemporary Masks of the Northwest Coast"

Gary Wyatt.

 

1991: Eulachon: A Fish to Cure Humanity"

Allene Drake & Lyle Wilson

 

1986: "The Art of the Northern American Indian: Native Traditions in Evolution"

Various Authors

 

1983: "Visions: Contemporary Art in Canada"

Robert Bringhurst

Whale: Photo By: Lyle Wilson Acrylic on Red Cedar with Maple frame 16 3/4" x 13 3/4"

---- Collections ----

 

~ Royal British Columbia Museum

~ Museum of Anthropology at UBC

~ UBC Faculty of Education

~ First Nations House of Learning

~ Vancouver Art Gallery

~ Vancouver International Airport

~ Burnaby Art Gallery

~ Toronto Dominion Bank.

~ Canada Council Art Bank

~ Imperial Esso

~ West Vancouver Museum

~ BC Sports Hall of Fame

~ Canadian Institute For The Blind

~ Kitimat Centenial Museum

~ Kitamaat Village Council