Mini-Masterworks IV
Mar 26, 2011 - Apr 16, 2011
The Spirit Wrestler Gallery is pleased to present our fourth installment of Mini-Masterworks. Each exhibition is an eighteen month journey to find rare art works from M膩ori of Aotearoa (New Zealand), First Nations of the Pacific Northwest Coast and Inuit of Alaska and Arctic Canada.
For over a decade the gallery has been a blend of art of these three distinct cultures. Mini-Masterworks is the only exhibition that captures the unique cultural interplay that exists between their arts in the gallery and spans the widest spectrum of materials, techniques and innovation.
We try with each collection to present a different flavour, reveal a few surprises, and introduce new talent as our list of participating artists continues to evolve. The fusion format of the exhibition continues to excite the artists and has proves very popular with our audience, making the arrival of the catalogue in the post a much anticipated event.
M膩ori representation continues to be a vital direction for our gallery and their arts recognition has prospered through its close cultural connection with the nations of the Northwest Coast. The two cultures are very similar and after many years of interactive projects, exhibitions and exchanges the artists have established long-term friendships. The M膩ori collection continues to amaze with many inspired artworks in a variety of mediums from intricate carvings in wood, bone and pounamu (jade) to vibrant paintings and delicate woven works. Over the years we have been blessed to have unanimous support from so many great artists like Sandy Adsett and June Grant, who have been pivotal in securing both cultural and artistic support to our exhibitions. Master silversmith, Alex Nathan's support originates back to our Fusion: Tradition & Discovery exhibition in 1999, when we introduced M膩ori art to you for the first time. This collection has a strong woven component with great harekeke weaving contributions from Christina Wirihana and Karl Leonard, some contemporary woven interpretations from Matthew McIntyre-Wilson and Jess Paraone, as well as woven glass experimentations from Te Rongo Kirkwood. We are excited to introduce for the first time the carving skills of Takuta Ferris, David Taylor and Barry Te Whatu.
We believe that this is possibly one of our strongest ever Northwest Mini-Masterwork collections with art of over twenty artists spanning the entire coastline. The Northwest collection provides a powerful counter cross-cultural balance to the Maori collection. The focus of the collection is the powerful series of frontlets that showcase the diversity found in this single object. Frontlets are headpieces worn by chiefs representing family crests and lineages. The frontlets vary in materials and design illustrating the many tribal styles from all over British Columbia. All are beautifully carved, painted and many intricately inlaid with abalone. The balance of the collection includes sculptural works, jewellery and woven pieces with exacting detail and technical skill. The new generation of Northwest Coast artists is well trained and driven to excellence by both traditional and modern influences. Luke Marston and Rande Cook have visited Italy and New York to study with an Italian master repouss茅 artist, Valentin Yotkov, and this is their first opportunity to reveal his impact on their jewellery. Teri Rofkar and Isabel Rorick are among our most celebrated artists of woven objects and their skills are particularly revealed in the fine weaving of small pieces. Jay Simeon is featured with outstanding pieces in silver and argillite and there are rare examples from master artists in miniature, Fred Davis and Rick Adkins.
The nucleus of the Inuit collection is the sculpture from Arctic Quebec, now known as Nunavik. Our gallery has always had a special affection for the sculpture of this Arctic region and we have at every opportunity included their art in our exhibitions. We were so excited to secure this collection of wonderful small sculptures because they capture the essence of the transition from the amulet to miniature sculpture. The narrative imagery of Arctic Quebec is to our many collectors where the origins of Inuit art as we know it today began. It was there in the early 1950s that James Houston first discovered and introduced Inuit carvings to the southern market. Sadly when one looks though the index of exhibiting Inuit artists it becomes very apparent how many of these great artists have passed away and how much we miss their art. At the same time artists such as Michael Massie and Billy Gauthier continue to push the art in vibrant new directions that are worthy for any established or emerging collector.
Our Inuit collection continues to support and represent artists from Alaska in the west across Canada to Labrador in the east. We are especially thankful to have the ongoing support of the master Alaskan Aleut jeweller Denise Wallace. Each collection is always a challenge to curate but among the most rewarding to complete. We enjoy working with artists by encouraging them to excel in their creations. We believe we have another extraordinary collection of small treasures for you to enjoy. We hope you will visit the gallery to see and enjoy the collection.
For over a decade the gallery has been a blend of art of these three distinct cultures. Mini-Masterworks is the only exhibition that captures the unique cultural interplay that exists between their arts in the gallery and spans the widest spectrum of materials, techniques and innovation.
We try with each collection to present a different flavour, reveal a few surprises, and introduce new talent as our list of participating artists continues to evolve. The fusion format of the exhibition continues to excite the artists and has proves very popular with our audience, making the arrival of the catalogue in the post a much anticipated event.
M膩ori representation continues to be a vital direction for our gallery and their arts recognition has prospered through its close cultural connection with the nations of the Northwest Coast. The two cultures are very similar and after many years of interactive projects, exhibitions and exchanges the artists have established long-term friendships. The M膩ori collection continues to amaze with many inspired artworks in a variety of mediums from intricate carvings in wood, bone and pounamu (jade) to vibrant paintings and delicate woven works. Over the years we have been blessed to have unanimous support from so many great artists like Sandy Adsett and June Grant, who have been pivotal in securing both cultural and artistic support to our exhibitions. Master silversmith, Alex Nathan's support originates back to our Fusion: Tradition & Discovery exhibition in 1999, when we introduced M膩ori art to you for the first time. This collection has a strong woven component with great harekeke weaving contributions from Christina Wirihana and Karl Leonard, some contemporary woven interpretations from Matthew McIntyre-Wilson and Jess Paraone, as well as woven glass experimentations from Te Rongo Kirkwood. We are excited to introduce for the first time the carving skills of Takuta Ferris, David Taylor and Barry Te Whatu.
We believe that this is possibly one of our strongest ever Northwest Mini-Masterwork collections with art of over twenty artists spanning the entire coastline. The Northwest collection provides a powerful counter cross-cultural balance to the Maori collection. The focus of the collection is the powerful series of frontlets that showcase the diversity found in this single object. Frontlets are headpieces worn by chiefs representing family crests and lineages. The frontlets vary in materials and design illustrating the many tribal styles from all over British Columbia. All are beautifully carved, painted and many intricately inlaid with abalone. The balance of the collection includes sculptural works, jewellery and woven pieces with exacting detail and technical skill. The new generation of Northwest Coast artists is well trained and driven to excellence by both traditional and modern influences. Luke Marston and Rande Cook have visited Italy and New York to study with an Italian master repouss茅 artist, Valentin Yotkov, and this is their first opportunity to reveal his impact on their jewellery. Teri Rofkar and Isabel Rorick are among our most celebrated artists of woven objects and their skills are particularly revealed in the fine weaving of small pieces. Jay Simeon is featured with outstanding pieces in silver and argillite and there are rare examples from master artists in miniature, Fred Davis and Rick Adkins.
The nucleus of the Inuit collection is the sculpture from Arctic Quebec, now known as Nunavik. Our gallery has always had a special affection for the sculpture of this Arctic region and we have at every opportunity included their art in our exhibitions. We were so excited to secure this collection of wonderful small sculptures because they capture the essence of the transition from the amulet to miniature sculpture. The narrative imagery of Arctic Quebec is to our many collectors where the origins of Inuit art as we know it today began. It was there in the early 1950s that James Houston first discovered and introduced Inuit carvings to the southern market. Sadly when one looks though the index of exhibiting Inuit artists it becomes very apparent how many of these great artists have passed away and how much we miss their art. At the same time artists such as Michael Massie and Billy Gauthier continue to push the art in vibrant new directions that are worthy for any established or emerging collector.
Our Inuit collection continues to support and represent artists from Alaska in the west across Canada to Labrador in the east. We are especially thankful to have the ongoing support of the master Alaskan Aleut jeweller Denise Wallace. Each collection is always a challenge to curate but among the most rewarding to complete. We enjoy working with artists by encouraging them to excel in their creations. We believe we have another extraordinary collection of small treasures for you to enjoy. We hope you will visit the gallery to see and enjoy the collection.
Recommended for you
Mar 09,2025
- May 18,2025
Feb 28,2025
- Jun 01,2025
The Spirit Wrestler Gallery is pleased to present our fourth installment of Mini-Masterworks. Each exhibition is an eighteen month journey to find rare art works from M膩ori of Aotearoa (New Zealand), First Nations of the Pacific Northwest Coast and Inuit of Alaska and Arctic Canada.
For over a decade the gallery has been a blend of art of these three distinct cultures. Mini-Masterworks is the only exhibition that captures the unique cultural interplay that exists between their arts in the gallery and spans the widest spectrum of materials, techniques and innovation.
We try with each collection to present a different flavour, reveal a few surprises, and introduce new talent as our list of participating artists continues to evolve. The fusion format of the exhibition continues to excite the artists and has proves very popular with our audience, making the arrival of the catalogue in the post a much anticipated event.
M膩ori representation continues to be a vital direction for our gallery and their arts recognition has prospered through its close cultural connection with the nations of the Northwest Coast. The two cultures are very similar and after many years of interactive projects, exhibitions and exchanges the artists have established long-term friendships. The M膩ori collection continues to amaze with many inspired artworks in a variety of mediums from intricate carvings in wood, bone and pounamu (jade) to vibrant paintings and delicate woven works. Over the years we have been blessed to have unanimous support from so many great artists like Sandy Adsett and June Grant, who have been pivotal in securing both cultural and artistic support to our exhibitions. Master silversmith, Alex Nathan's support originates back to our Fusion: Tradition & Discovery exhibition in 1999, when we introduced M膩ori art to you for the first time. This collection has a strong woven component with great harekeke weaving contributions from Christina Wirihana and Karl Leonard, some contemporary woven interpretations from Matthew McIntyre-Wilson and Jess Paraone, as well as woven glass experimentations from Te Rongo Kirkwood. We are excited to introduce for the first time the carving skills of Takuta Ferris, David Taylor and Barry Te Whatu.
We believe that this is possibly one of our strongest ever Northwest Mini-Masterwork collections with art of over twenty artists spanning the entire coastline. The Northwest collection provides a powerful counter cross-cultural balance to the Maori collection. The focus of the collection is the powerful series of frontlets that showcase the diversity found in this single object. Frontlets are headpieces worn by chiefs representing family crests and lineages. The frontlets vary in materials and design illustrating the many tribal styles from all over British Columbia. All are beautifully carved, painted and many intricately inlaid with abalone. The balance of the collection includes sculptural works, jewellery and woven pieces with exacting detail and technical skill. The new generation of Northwest Coast artists is well trained and driven to excellence by both traditional and modern influences. Luke Marston and Rande Cook have visited Italy and New York to study with an Italian master repouss茅 artist, Valentin Yotkov, and this is their first opportunity to reveal his impact on their jewellery. Teri Rofkar and Isabel Rorick are among our most celebrated artists of woven objects and their skills are particularly revealed in the fine weaving of small pieces. Jay Simeon is featured with outstanding pieces in silver and argillite and there are rare examples from master artists in miniature, Fred Davis and Rick Adkins.
The nucleus of the Inuit collection is the sculpture from Arctic Quebec, now known as Nunavik. Our gallery has always had a special affection for the sculpture of this Arctic region and we have at every opportunity included their art in our exhibitions. We were so excited to secure this collection of wonderful small sculptures because they capture the essence of the transition from the amulet to miniature sculpture. The narrative imagery of Arctic Quebec is to our many collectors where the origins of Inuit art as we know it today began. It was there in the early 1950s that James Houston first discovered and introduced Inuit carvings to the southern market. Sadly when one looks though the index of exhibiting Inuit artists it becomes very apparent how many of these great artists have passed away and how much we miss their art. At the same time artists such as Michael Massie and Billy Gauthier continue to push the art in vibrant new directions that are worthy for any established or emerging collector.
Our Inuit collection continues to support and represent artists from Alaska in the west across Canada to Labrador in the east. We are especially thankful to have the ongoing support of the master Alaskan Aleut jeweller Denise Wallace. Each collection is always a challenge to curate but among the most rewarding to complete. We enjoy working with artists by encouraging them to excel in their creations. We believe we have another extraordinary collection of small treasures for you to enjoy. We hope you will visit the gallery to see and enjoy the collection.
For over a decade the gallery has been a blend of art of these three distinct cultures. Mini-Masterworks is the only exhibition that captures the unique cultural interplay that exists between their arts in the gallery and spans the widest spectrum of materials, techniques and innovation.
We try with each collection to present a different flavour, reveal a few surprises, and introduce new talent as our list of participating artists continues to evolve. The fusion format of the exhibition continues to excite the artists and has proves very popular with our audience, making the arrival of the catalogue in the post a much anticipated event.
M膩ori representation continues to be a vital direction for our gallery and their arts recognition has prospered through its close cultural connection with the nations of the Northwest Coast. The two cultures are very similar and after many years of interactive projects, exhibitions and exchanges the artists have established long-term friendships. The M膩ori collection continues to amaze with many inspired artworks in a variety of mediums from intricate carvings in wood, bone and pounamu (jade) to vibrant paintings and delicate woven works. Over the years we have been blessed to have unanimous support from so many great artists like Sandy Adsett and June Grant, who have been pivotal in securing both cultural and artistic support to our exhibitions. Master silversmith, Alex Nathan's support originates back to our Fusion: Tradition & Discovery exhibition in 1999, when we introduced M膩ori art to you for the first time. This collection has a strong woven component with great harekeke weaving contributions from Christina Wirihana and Karl Leonard, some contemporary woven interpretations from Matthew McIntyre-Wilson and Jess Paraone, as well as woven glass experimentations from Te Rongo Kirkwood. We are excited to introduce for the first time the carving skills of Takuta Ferris, David Taylor and Barry Te Whatu.
We believe that this is possibly one of our strongest ever Northwest Mini-Masterwork collections with art of over twenty artists spanning the entire coastline. The Northwest collection provides a powerful counter cross-cultural balance to the Maori collection. The focus of the collection is the powerful series of frontlets that showcase the diversity found in this single object. Frontlets are headpieces worn by chiefs representing family crests and lineages. The frontlets vary in materials and design illustrating the many tribal styles from all over British Columbia. All are beautifully carved, painted and many intricately inlaid with abalone. The balance of the collection includes sculptural works, jewellery and woven pieces with exacting detail and technical skill. The new generation of Northwest Coast artists is well trained and driven to excellence by both traditional and modern influences. Luke Marston and Rande Cook have visited Italy and New York to study with an Italian master repouss茅 artist, Valentin Yotkov, and this is their first opportunity to reveal his impact on their jewellery. Teri Rofkar and Isabel Rorick are among our most celebrated artists of woven objects and their skills are particularly revealed in the fine weaving of small pieces. Jay Simeon is featured with outstanding pieces in silver and argillite and there are rare examples from master artists in miniature, Fred Davis and Rick Adkins.
The nucleus of the Inuit collection is the sculpture from Arctic Quebec, now known as Nunavik. Our gallery has always had a special affection for the sculpture of this Arctic region and we have at every opportunity included their art in our exhibitions. We were so excited to secure this collection of wonderful small sculptures because they capture the essence of the transition from the amulet to miniature sculpture. The narrative imagery of Arctic Quebec is to our many collectors where the origins of Inuit art as we know it today began. It was there in the early 1950s that James Houston first discovered and introduced Inuit carvings to the southern market. Sadly when one looks though the index of exhibiting Inuit artists it becomes very apparent how many of these great artists have passed away and how much we miss their art. At the same time artists such as Michael Massie and Billy Gauthier continue to push the art in vibrant new directions that are worthy for any established or emerging collector.
Our Inuit collection continues to support and represent artists from Alaska in the west across Canada to Labrador in the east. We are especially thankful to have the ongoing support of the master Alaskan Aleut jeweller Denise Wallace. Each collection is always a challenge to curate but among the most rewarding to complete. We enjoy working with artists by encouraging them to excel in their creations. We believe we have another extraordinary collection of small treasures for you to enjoy. We hope you will visit the gallery to see and enjoy the collection.
Artists on show
What's on nearby
Feb 06,2025
- May 10,2025
