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Summer School: Coast Salish Relief Woodcarving
The following description was submitted by the event organizer.
Under the guidance of Squamish and Kwakwak’wakw master carver Xwalacktun (Rick Harry), students will create their own relief carving inspired by Coast Salish traditions. Coast Salish carving represents thousands of years of artistic practice among the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast and Salish Sea region, where cedar has long held sacred significance as a foundation for cultural expression, ceremony, and daily life.
“I like bringing people together and learning. Spreading good news. Passing on knowledge. This work is connected to the earth, spirituality, unity, and the environment.” —Xwalacktun
This distinctive artistic tradition—characterized by flowing, curvilinear forms and deeply symbolic imagery—differs from the bold formline designs of northern nations while sharing the same reverence for story, spirituality, and connection to place. Students will explore these diverse Northwest Coast styles, including the northern traditions of the Haida, Tsimshian, and Kwakwak’wakw, and learn how cultural and spiritual purposes shape each carved form.
Beginning with drawing and layout, students will develop their own designs (approx. 8” x 12”) on paper before transferring them to wood panels. Xwalacktun will demonstrate essential techniques, including tool sharpening, proper ergonomics, grain reading, and cutting methods, encouraging students to find their own pace and embrace the meditative nature of the work. The course will also introduce traditional color applications—red ochre, copper, black, and white—along with washes and stains that bring each carving to life.
All tools provided. Students with their own carving tools (straight knife, bent knife, mallet, gouges) are encouraged to bring them.
In addition to class hours, students in Summer School intensives will have access to open studio hours for the duration of their workshop, and be able to work independently on their projects from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.