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Adrian Wall
Terry Starr
Tsimshian Artist
ARTIST:
Terry Starr
Alu’-Alums
or ‘Crying for or longing after something or
someone’ Terry was given this childhood name when he
was 6 years old by the Chief of the Tribe when his
grandfather passed away.
Thla-enak or ‘It’s been a long time’ - his adult
name was given to him by the acting Chief when Terry
returned to the village after a long absence.
BIRTHDATE:
March 2, 1951
LOCATION:
Port Simpson (Lax Kwalaams), father and
Kitsumkalum (‘Kalum), mother
Currently resides in Vancouver, BC
CULTURAL
GROUP: Tsimshian; Clan - Eagle
(Lax Skeek)
ART
HISTORY:
I began carving when
I was in Business College in Victoria first with
eager interest and after many years of curiosity. I
purchased my first adze and carving knives in 1982.
I was
taught the proper use of Northwest Coast traditional
carving tools by Kwagiulth master carver/artist and
good friend, Richard Hunt. Back in 1984, he was
working at the B.C. Provincial Museum as the
resident carver. After 3 months of intensive daily
tutoring, I began carving full time on my own.
Immediately after college, I was employed at a
gallery for 6 months on a job-training program as an
appraiser of North American Indian Art specializing
in Northwest Coast Native Art. I studied countless
art objects of the Northwest Coast style. My
training took me to study incredible collections at
institutions such as University of British
Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology, Glenbow Museum in
Calgary, Royal Ontario Museum, The Canadian National
Museum of Civilization, as well as many museums in
the U.S.A. All that I had to consume, digest and
remember for examinations.
The
experience allowed me to advance into carving my
traditional “Tsimshian” style with relative ease. I
have also accumulated a very large personal library
on the topic of Northwest Coast Art.
Additional Data:
Terry has exhibited his work since 1985 in countless
galleries and museums across Canada and the USA. He
has worked on many commissions including:
1988
sub-contractor for UBC to construct the “Tsimshian
House” for the Canadian Museum of Civilization in
Hull, Quebec
1988 carving
demo with Richard Hunt at the Minneapolis Institute
of Art in conjunction with travelling exhibit
‘Objects of Bright Pride’ assisting Richard
Hunt in carving and painting a 30’
Kwagiulth totem pole, later shipped to Brisbane
Australia for Expo 1989
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