Andrea Marie Wilbur

 Andrea Marie Wilbur is from the Coast Salish people and is a member of the Squaxin Island tribe.  She is the great-great granddaughter of Henry Allen who was the main informant for the Skokomish Nation.  She is also the first great granddaughter of Andrew P. Peterson, the first granddaughter of Bert Wilbur, Dennis Allen, and Arline Peterson Wilbur, and the oldest daughter of renowned carvers Andrew and Ruth Wilbur. Andrea is the first known woman carver of many generations of carvers.

 Andrea was born in Seattle WA in 1975.  She grew up on the Skokomish reservation, and over the past nine years has lived in Shelton where she is raising her three children.

 Andrea is deeply involved in the art and culture of her community. “I grew up surrounded by art. My family has always been deeply involved in the art and culture of the community,” says Andrea. Her artistic life began at the age of three surrounded by an artistic community including her parents and other elders such as Louisa Pulsifer, Emily Miller, Andrew Peterson, and Bertha Visser.  She started out with beadwork and has since learned Coast Salish art forms such as bentwood boxes, masks, panels, button blankets, baskets, etc. The panels Andrea carves are reminiscent of the large cedar plank screens that were used to separate the living spaces of the chiefs and their families in the immense community houses.  The bentwood boxes, or kerfed boxes, are made from a single plank of yellow or red cedar and generally decorated with the clan crests of their owners. Most were watertight for holding food and liquids while others were used to store household goods. 

Andrea is passionate about her work and, as far back as she can recall, has always wanted to be a carver and artist. Her specialty for the past several years is in relief carving. Traditional Coast Salish designs have a fresh look with her use of clean lines and modern colors mixed with those of the past. Andrea is continually researching and applying her knowledge to her art forms today. Her newest art form is doll making. Andrea creates dolls wearing traditional clothes with masks, hands and feet carved from wood.