This is an archived event from Culture Days 2022.
Images
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![carver Karver Everson in art studio next to work in progress totem pole]()
Karver Everson with the in-progress totem pole -
![artists and gallery owner at blessing ceremony of log for totem pole]()
(left to right) Junior Henderson, Karver Everson and Walter Stolting at the Blessing Ceremony of the cedar log
Totem Pole Blessing Ceremony
In-person
Indigenous Museum Sculpture & installation Storytelling Visual artsDate and time
Location
Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery
2926 Back Road
Courtenay, BC
Access
Free.
Offered in English.
Wheelchair accessible, has gender-neutral washrooms, and offers audio description.
About
Join us at Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery for the pole raising and blessing ceremony of a new totem pole carved by Pentl’ach/K’ómoks artist Karver Everson and Junior Henderson of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation.
Karver Everson is an emerging carver educated both formally as an artist and culturally as a member of the K'omoks First Nation. Karver studied fine art first at North Island College and more recently at the University of Victoria, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 2020 and is currently working on his Master's Degree. He is greatly influenced by his family's connection to their cultural heritage and is eager to uphold the cultural traditions of both his K’ómoks and Kwakwakaʼwakw ancestors. Karver has been blessed by the mentors in his life, having worked under the tutelage of renowned artists Richard Hunt, Calvin Hunt, Mervyn Child, David Knox, and Rande Cook.
Karver was commissioned by Spirits of the West Coast to carve a pole that would be placed at the front of the gallery overlooking the Comox Valley and the K'omoks Glacier, and would represent the area. Karver was inspired to create this design from a Pentlach legend about the Thunderbird. While working on this totem pole Karver was assisted and mentored by Kwakwaka'wakw artist Junior Henderson of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation in Campbell River, BC.
The blessing ceremony will take place on September 24th 2022 at 3:00 pm at 2926 Back Road in Courtenay, BC. All are welcome to attend. The artist will be on-site as well as other members of the K'omoks First Nation.
We respectfully acknowledge that the land we live and work on is located on the Unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.
Links
- Learn more about Karver Everson spiritsofthewestcoast.com
Organizer
Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery
Since 2006 Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery has specialized in a large variety of traditional and contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous Artwork and Jewelry. With over 100 artists of Haida, Kwakwaka’wakw, Coast Salish, and West Coast descent the gallery offers a wide selection of native masks, paddles, argillite carvings, sculptures, prints, silver and gold rings, bracelets, pendants, and more. The gallery is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the art and cultures of the Northwest Coast First Nations and find unique one-of-a-kind works of art.