Duane Pasco
Encyclopedia
Duane Pasco was born on May 14, 1932, and raised in Alaska
and Seattle. He is a highly regarded Native-style artist and teacher of Northwest Coast art
, in particular a key contributor to reviving the 'Ksan
style.
He has been professionally active since his first gallery showing in 1966, working in both carving and two-dimensional formats. In 1967, he took a leave of absence from his then-employment for a steel-construction company, in order to move beyond what he describes as making "curios" and pursue art education full time. He again made a major change in approach in 1976. At both these times, he was heavily influenced in his artistic development by the writings and works of artist and historian Bill Holm
. He has taught classes at many universities and schools in Washington, British Columbia
, and Alaska, notably the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art ('Ksan), where he influenced artists such as Walter Harris
. He is a friend and associate of Nuu-Chah-Nulth
artist Joe David
.
His carved totems are publicly viewable in Seattle at Occidental Park and Seattle Center
, and in Sitka, Alaska at Sitka National Historical Park
.
He is a speaker and expounder of Chinook Jargon
. In the early 1990s he published the bi-monthly Tenas Wawa newsletter in Poulsbo, Washington
, where he continues to live.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and Seattle. He is a highly regarded Native-style artist and teacher of Northwest Coast art
Northwest Coast art
Northwest Coast art is the term commonly applied to a style of art created primarily by artists from Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Kwakwaka'wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth and other First Nations and Native American tribes of the Northwest Coast of North America, from pre-European-contact times up to the...
, in particular a key contributor to reviving the 'Ksan
'Ksan
Ksan is a historical village and living museum of the Gitxsan people in the Skeena Country of northwestern British Columbia, Canada, located near Hazelton at the confluence of the Skeena and Bulkley Rivers.- See also :...
style.
He has been professionally active since his first gallery showing in 1966, working in both carving and two-dimensional formats. In 1967, he took a leave of absence from his then-employment for a steel-construction company, in order to move beyond what he describes as making "curios" and pursue art education full time. He again made a major change in approach in 1976. At both these times, he was heavily influenced in his artistic development by the writings and works of artist and historian Bill Holm
Bill Holm (art historian)
Bill Holm is a U.S. artist, author and art historian specializing in the visual arts of Northwest Coast Native Americans as well as a practitioner and teacher of the Northwest Coast art style...
. He has taught classes at many universities and schools in Washington, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, and Alaska, notably the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art ('Ksan), where he influenced artists such as Walter Harris
Walter Harris (artist)
Walter Harris is a Canadian artist and hereditary chief from the Gitxsan First Nation in northwestern British Columbia....
. He is a friend and associate of Nuu-Chah-Nulth
Nuu-chah-nulth
The Nuu-chah-nulth are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada...
artist Joe David
Joe David
Joe David is a Canadian-born artist, a member of the Tla-o-qui-aht Band of the Nuu-chah-nulth people, also formally "adopted" into the Haida people, whose work is identified with the modern Northwest Coast art movement; among his close associates are teacher and art historian Bill Holm, Duane...
.
His carved totems are publicly viewable in Seattle at Occidental Park and Seattle Center
Seattle Center
Seattle Center is a park and arts and entertainment center in Seattle, Washington. The campus is the site used in 1962 by the Century 21 Exposition. It is located just north of Belltown in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood.-Attractions:...
, and in Sitka, Alaska at Sitka National Historical Park
Sitka National Historical Park
Located approximately one–half mile from the Park, the Russian Bishop's House was constructed out of native spruce in 1842 by Finnish carpenters. It is one of only four surviving examples of Russian Colonial Style architecture in the Western Hemisphere...
.
He is a speaker and expounder of Chinook Jargon
Chinook Jargon
Chinook Jargon originated as a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River, first to other areas in modern Oregon and Washington, then British Columbia and as far as Alaska, sometimes taking on characteristics of a creole language...
. In the early 1990s he published the bi-monthly Tenas Wawa newsletter in Poulsbo, Washington
Poulsbo, Washington
Poulsbo is a city on Liberty Bay in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is the fourth largest city in Kitsap County and one of the main suburbs of Seattle in the Kitsap area. The population was 9,200 at the 2010 census....
, where he continues to live.
External links
- Online display of works by Duane Pasco held at the Stonington Gallery, Pioneer Square, Seattle.