This content was published: October 30, 2000. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Hunt to Visit Northview Gallery for Carving Demonstration
Photos and story by James Hill
SYLVANIA CAMPUS – Richard Hunt, the Kwa-Gulth (Kwakiutl) artist who is making a totem pole for Portland Community College, will display his art and conduct a woodcarving demonstration at PCC’s Sylvania Campus Northview Gallery, located at 12000 S.W. 49th Ave. His artwork will be on exhibit at the gallery between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays from Thursday, Nov. 2 to Jan. 6, 2001 and he’ll give a talk and carving demonstration at a reception from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9. There will be a raffle for his carved object following the demonstration.Hunt is currently working on the design of a totem pole for the Sylvania Campus. He plans on erecting the pole on a patch of lawn north of the performing arts center on the Sylvania Campus in April 2001. The pole will be a catalyst for ongoing teaching and learning projects. A scale model of this pole will be unveiled at the November exhibit opening."The concept for the totem pole will be based on the Hunt family crestpole," Hunt said. "I will be incorporating figures such as the eagle, bear, man and salmon. These figures also represent the Portland area and people. On the back of the pole I will carve a smiling moon, slightly tilted, as a welcome to the students arriving on campus each day."Born in Alert Bay, B.C., Hunt began carving with his late father, Henry, at the age of 13. After high school, Richard Hunt began work in the Royal British Columbia Museum as an apprentice carver and soon assumed duties as chief carver in the Thunderbird Park carving program. He remained there for 12 years and in 1986 resigned to become a full-time artist. In 1991, he received the Order of British Columbia for his work benefiting the province. Hunt was the first native artist to receive the prestigious award. Hunt was awarded the Order of Canada in 1994, one of the most prestigious national awards for artists in Canada. For more information on Hunt’s visit, contact Marie Watt, PCC art instructor, at 977-8017, or Colette Walker, visual arts instructor and director of the Northview Gallery, at 977-8334. You can also visit Hunt’s Web site at richardhunt.com.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »