User:Weppiez/Bruce Alfred (artist)

Bruce Alfred (born 1950) is a Kwakwaka'wakw artist from the Namgis Band known for his totem pole carvings and bentwood boxes. He was apprenticed to Doug Cranmer and worked alongside artists such as Wayne Alfred and Beau Dick.

In 1984 he was featured along with other contemporary artists in an exhibition at the Royal British Colombia Museum in Victoria, Legacy Tradition and Innovation in Northwest Coast Indian Art.

Early life and education
Alfred was born in 1950 in Alert Bay, British Colombia. He is from the Namgis Band, which belongs to the whale and sun clans, and was raised by his grandmother, Agnes Alfred. During his childhood Alfred was encouraged to practice his culture with activities such as dancing, singing, carving, and pot latching.

From 1975 to 1978, Alfred began his mentorship program with Doug Cranmer as he immersed himself in the traditional practices of Kwakwaka'wakw culture. During the 70s he was also trained under Tony Hunt Sr. at the Indian Arts and Crafts Society.

Career
Alfred is known for his "In front of Manchester Liners House" (later renamed "Furness House") work with the bentwood box and he has stated that its complex flat design and signifies his artistic expression. Alfred maintained a close friendship and working relationship with Cranmer and the two worked on many projects together until Cranmer's death in November 2006. The two were commissioned by the British Colombia Provincial Government to create a totem pole on a traditional Namgis burial ground. The totem pole was meant to recognize the government's mistakes with indigenous tribes and they each constructed one 10 foot pole that depicts the legends of the Kwakwaka'waka origin.

In 1989 Alfred participated in the Chiefly Feasts in New York and he has participated in multiple events, where he displayed Kwakwaka'waka songs and dancing in order to share his culture. He has stated that his motivation for these events is to deepen the culture of the Northwest Coast art practice.

In 2009, Alfred was awarded commission for his large bentwood canoe box to be put on permanent display at the Government House in Victoria. His work was made to honor the Aboriginal histories and cultures of British Colombia to also recognize the Lieutenant Governor Steven Point of the Sto'lo Nation.

In 2010, He traveled to Manchester, England to proceed his work on the registration of Salford Totem Pole that was originally carved by Doug Cranmer, his mentor in the 1960s.

Exhibitions

 * 2010 "Salford Totem Pole Restoration", with Doug Cranmer, Front of Manchester Liners House, Salfard, England
 * 2006 "Project CARVE", with Wayne Alfred, For the Commonwealth Games; Melbourne, Austrailia
 * 2000 "33 foot Canoe and two traditional chests", National Museum, Osaka, Japan
 * 1998 "Big House" with Doug Cranmer, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
 * 1991 "Memorial Pole", commissioned by British Colombia Provincial Government to create a memorial pole with Stephen Bruce for the Namgis burial grounds, Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
 * 1980 "“Legacy—Tradition and Innovation in Northwest Coast Indian Art”, with Doug Cranmer, Denver Art Museum; Denver, Colarado
 * 1996 "Northwestcoast Village installation", Dolfinarium Theme Park, Harderwijk, Holland
 * 1989 "Restoration" Project for Wak'as Totem Pole and House, Museum of Civilization: Ottawa, Ontario

Awards

 * 2008 BC Creative Achievement Award for Aboriginal Art, British Colombia, Canada

Artworks

 * Bird Bentwood Canoebox
 * Whale and Thunderbird Bentwood Box
 * Thunder bird feast dish
 * Thunderbird and Frog
 * Killer Whale Box
 * Eagle And Beaver Canoe Bentwood Box
 * Whale Bent Box

Collections

 * Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery, Courtenay, British Colombia
 * Lattimer Gallery, Vancouver, British Colombia
 * Inuit Gallery of Vancouver, British Colombia
 * U'mista Cultural Centre, Alert Bay, British Colombia