Norman Tait
Encyclopedia
Norman Tait is a Canadian First Nations
artist and totem pole
carver from the Nisga'a
nation of northwestern British Columbia
.
He was born in Kincolith (Gingolx)
on the Nass River
in B.C., the son of Josiah Tait, also a carver and the great-grandson of Chief Alfred Watson Mountain, Sganism Sim'oogit.
He is a member of the House of Luuya'as of the Laxsgiik
(Eagle clan) and holds or has held the hereditary titles Na'ax-lax, Gawaakhl, and Naawootkw Lik'inskw lax galts'ap, the last meaning "Grizzly Bear Coming onto the Village."
He began carving in 1970, and sought out Nisga'a artifacts that he could study as there were no living Nisga'a master carvers for him to study. He later studyied under the tutelage of the Haida carvers Freda Diesing
and Gerry Marks
.
He has carved poles standing in various British Columbia
n locales such as Port Edward
, Lax Kw'alaams, Alert Bay
and Vancouver
, and, in 1983, at the Field Museum of Natural History
in Chicago
, Osaka, Japan, and Germany, as well as many private collections. In 1992, Tait raised a totem in the Royal families Bushy Park in London England. Tait also raised a totem pole to commemorate the opening of the Nisga'a Lisims Government building in New Aiyansh, B.C., "Goothl Lisims", which translates as "the heart of the Nass".
Tait was the first carver to host a one-man show during a time when exhibitions were traditionally show casing several artists at a time. He put together 125 pieces for this exhibit at the Museum of Anthropology in 1977.
Tait is known for the realistic detailing of his sculptured carving, moon masks, two dimensional design doors, and jewellery.
Tait currently works with his carving partner, Lucinda Turner. He began teaching Turner in 1991 and they have subsequently completed many carvings, including two major commissions for the Vancouver Stock Exchange. They also opened the working art gallery Wilp's Tsaak Gallery - House of the Mischievous Man in West Vancouver.
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
artist and totem pole
Totem pole
Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large trees, mostly Western Red Cedar, by cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America...
carver from the Nisga'a
Nisga'a
The Nisga’a , often formerly spelled Nishga and spelled in the Nisga’a language as Nisga’a, are an Indigenous nation or First Nation in Canada. They live in the Nass River valley of northwestern British Columbia. Their name comes from a combination of two Nisga’a words: Nisk’-"top lip" and...
nation of northwestern 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...
.
He was born in Kincolith (Gingolx)
Gingolx
Gingolx is a Nisga'a Village in the Nass River valley in British Columbia, Canada. The village population is approximately 341 people. Gingolx is one of four Nisga'a villages that make up the Nisga'a Nation. The community itself has four clans which are Killer Whale, Eagle, Raven and Wolf...
on the Nass River
Nass River
The Nass River is a river in northern British Columbia, Canada. It flows from the Coast Mountains southwest to Nass Bay, a sidewater of Portland Inlet, which connects to the North Pacific Ocean via the Dixon Entrance...
in B.C., the son of Josiah Tait, also a carver and the great-grandson of Chief Alfred Watson Mountain, Sganism Sim'oogit.
He is a member of the House of Luuya'as of the Laxsgiik
Laxsgiik
The Laxsgiik is the name for the Eagle "clan" in the language of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska...
(Eagle clan) and holds or has held the hereditary titles Na'ax-lax, Gawaakhl, and Naawootkw Lik'inskw lax galts'ap, the last meaning "Grizzly Bear Coming onto the Village."
He began carving in 1970, and sought out Nisga'a artifacts that he could study as there were no living Nisga'a master carvers for him to study. He later studyied under the tutelage of the Haida carvers Freda Diesing
Freda Diesing
Freda Diesing was one of very few female carvers of Northwest Coast totem poles and a member of the Haida First Nation of British Columbia, Canada....
and Gerry Marks
Gerry Marks
Gerry Marks is a Canadian First Nations artist of Haida ancestry.He grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, the grandson of John Marks, a Haida artist....
.
He has carved poles standing in various 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...
n locales such as Port Edward
Port Edward, British Columbia
The District of Port Edward is a town of approximately 577, located on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada.It is situated on the Tsimpsean Peninsula, opposite Ridley Island, 15 km south of Prince Rupert.-Directions:...
, Lax Kw'alaams, Alert Bay
Alert Bay, British Columbia
Alert Bay is a village on Cormorant Island, British Columbia, Canada. According to the 2006 census, 556 people live within the village.-Population:Slightly more than half of the village's 556 residents are First Nations people...
and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, and, in 1983, at the Field Museum of Natural History
Field Museum of Natural History
The Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as the Museum Campus Chicago...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Osaka, Japan, and Germany, as well as many private collections. In 1992, Tait raised a totem in the Royal families Bushy Park in London England. Tait also raised a totem pole to commemorate the opening of the Nisga'a Lisims Government building in New Aiyansh, B.C., "Goothl Lisims", which translates as "the heart of the Nass".
Tait was the first carver to host a one-man show during a time when exhibitions were traditionally show casing several artists at a time. He put together 125 pieces for this exhibit at the Museum of Anthropology in 1977.
Tait is known for the realistic detailing of his sculptured carving, moon masks, two dimensional design doors, and jewellery.
Tait currently works with his carving partner, Lucinda Turner. He began teaching Turner in 1991 and they have subsequently completed many carvings, including two major commissions for the Vancouver Stock Exchange. They also opened the working art gallery Wilp's Tsaak Gallery - House of the Mischievous Man in West Vancouver.
Sources
- Jensen, Doreen, and Polly Sargent (1986) Robes of Power: Totem Poles on Cloth. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.
- Macnair, Peter L., Alan L. Hoover, and Kevin Neary (1984) The Legacy: Tradition and Innovation in Northwest Coast Indian Art. Vancouver, B.C.: Douglas & McIntyre.