Visitors to the Ruby Creek Art Gallery in Hope were all smiles last Saturday as Coast Salish carver George Price delighted all with his knowledge on carving.
The carver was at the gallery for a two-day Artist Demo (Feb. 7 and Feb. 8) where he made carvings on-site and sold his woodwork to interested buyers. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., people from all over filled Ruby Creek and got the chance to speak with Price and ask him questions about previous projects, as well as his carving process.
Visitors also got a chance to help Price with his ongoing project to create the largest ball of cedar rope.
"We had a lot of people and a lot of kids today," Price said. "I've showed them a lot and they've just absorbed it. But it's been full today."
For the past year, Price has been dividing his time between British Columbia and Ontario in order to work on various carving projects and share his knowledge. Price, who is a Coast Salish carver from Seabird Island First Nation, currently lives in Thunder Bay, Ontario where he also teaches in his spare time. He's previously been commissioned to carve totem poles, masks, canoes/birchbark canoes, house posts, doors, podiums, coffins, bentwood boxes (urns) and relief carving plaques.
This includes the 20-foot totem pole he created for Sq’ewá:lxw First Nation (Skawahlook) that currently residents at the gallery. Price started working on the pole on June 28, 2023 and visitors were able to help him carve (after signing a waiver) and listen to him talk about Coast Salish woodwork. He also explained the imagery used for the pole and why its final design was chosen.
The pole was unveiled to the public on Nov. 15.
"With every piece that I make, a part of me goes with it," Price said. "So, when I come back and see them, it just brings me back to where my spirit was that year."
In addition to the projects he's been working, Price also got the chance to visit New Zealand, in October 2024, with the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA). While there, he got to meet the newly crowned Māori Queen, or kuini (Māori word for queen), Ngā Wai hono i te pō and hand her a figure of an eagle holding a ladle, on behalf of ONWA.
He also back was in Hope on Nov. 23 for the gallery's art gala.
A carver of 40 plus years, Price carves with a variety of mediums that includes: red & yellow cedar, inner cedar bark, alder, birch, diamond willow, white pine, black spruce, ash and acrylic paints. He also uses abalone, operculum, copper, whale bones and feathers to help finish off his work. He was taught in the Kwakwakawak and Coast Salish carving styles and apprenticed under Alfred Robertson, Jackson Robertson, Tom Whonnock, Dave Jacobson, and John Jacobson.
Price said it is still his goal to open a proper school one day dedicated to teaching Coast Salish carving; as one of the last Tiyt carvers, Price wants to share and pass on his knowledge, for free, in order to nurture a new generation of carvers.
As of Feb. 8, he said he's planning on speaking with someone about possibly obtaining space for classes. For now, however, Price is focused on his carving and sharing his knowledge with anyone willing to speak with him.
For those who missed the art demo, and other previous projects, the Ruby Creek Art Gallery said it has another carving project planned for this summer. More information and details will be available on the gallery's Facebook page.
