David
Boxley is a Tsimshian carver from Metlakatla, Alaska. Born in 1952,
he was raised by his grandparents. From them he learned many Tsimshian
traditions including the language. After high school he attended
Seattle Pacific University where he received a Bachelor of Science
degree in 1974. He became a teacher and basketball coach to Junior
and Senior high students in Alaska and Washington.
While
teaching in Metlakatla in 1979 he began devoting considerable time
to the study of traditional Tsimshian carving. Through researching
ethnographic material and carvings from museum collections, Boxley
has learned the traditional carving methods of his grandfather's
people.
In
1986 he made a major career decision to leave the security of teaching
and to devote all of his energies toward carving and researching
the legacy of Northwest Coast Indian art. David Boxley has become
a nationally recognized Indian artist showing and demonstrating
his art in many parts of the United States and Europe.
In
1990, during the Goodwill Games Boxley was commissioned to carve
the crown of a "Talking Stick." Boxley's carving of a
unified American eagle and a Russian bear became a symbol of peace
and harmony between the United States and Soviet Union and was an
important part of the summer's Goodwill Games. Messages from President
George Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev were inserted
in a hollowed portion of the talking stick and athletes carried
the stick from Spokane through Washington and Oregon to Seattle
for the opening ceremonies. In the millennium year 2000, David was
commissioned to carve a Talking Stick for the office of the Mayor
of Seattle.
Boxley's
functional and decorative pieces such as bentwood boxes, rattles,
masks, prints and panels are in collections of the King and Queen
of Sweden, the Emperor of Japan, the President of West Germany,
the Mayor of Chongging (China), Microsoft, Walt Disney World, Knott's
Berry Farm and numerous other private collectors of fine Northwest
Coast art.
David
Boxley is the first Alaskan Tsimshian to achieve national prominence;
he is particularly well respected as a totem pole carver, having
carved 58 poles in the last 23 years. He has taught and demonstrated
at the following museums and institutes: Smithsonian Institute,
Washington, D.C.; Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.; Museum
of History & Industry; Seattle, WA; Burke Museum, University
of Washington, Seattle, WA; Sheldon Jackson College, Sitka, Alaska;
Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Sitka, AK; Totem Heritage Center, Ketchikan,
AK; Cornish Art Institute, Seattle WA; Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ;
Glasgow Arts Center, Glasgow, Scotland; Festival of the Pacific,
Honolulu, Hawaii; Museum of Civilization, Ottawa, Canada; Baltimore
Museum of Art, Baltimore, Maryland; Epcot Center, Disney World,
Florida; the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage Alaska; and
Yakutat and Hoonah Community Schools, Alaska.
In
all of David Boxley' s works of art, from totem poles, box drums
to prints, he emphasizes Tsimshian style. In the recent resurgence
of Native American cultural traditions, artists have become the
culture bearers for their tribes. Boxley accepts this responsibility
not only in his carving accomplishments, but by bringing the traditions
he has learned in his path to being a carver back to his home village.
David
has been deeply involved in the rebirth of Tsimshian culture through
organizing and hosting Potlatches in Alaska and Washington. He has
been responsible for the first Seattle Northwest Coast Potlatch
in one hundred years. This historic event was held in 1996. It was
such a success that another was held in 1997. David was also responsible
for reintroducing the potlatch back to his home village of Metlakatla,
Alaska. These Potlatches involved traditional cultural activities
such as clan adoption, name giving, gift giving, ceremonial regalia
dedication, and memorials as well as song and dance.
David
has been directly involved in the formation of four successful dance
groups: one in his home village of Metlakatla, Alaska, and others
in Seattle, Washington. He led the Tsimshian Haayuuk for 6 years,
and now has a new group called the Git-Hoan (people of the Salmon).
David has written over 40 songs in his Native language, and carved
many masks, rattles, paddles and other performance items.
"Artists
from long ago inspire new generations of Indians to carry on the
traditions of which they began. I am determined and dedicated to
become the finest artist that I can be while at the same time helping
to revitalize and carry on the rich culture of my tribe: I want
my sons and other young Indian people to be proud of their heritage."
David
Boxley - Tsimshian Eagle Native Woodcarving
Welcome. On these pages, you will be introduced
to some of the work of David Boxley, an internationally recognized
Northwest Coast Native artist and culture bearer. David primarily
produces his artwork on a commission basis, and has accepted commissions
from organizations, individuals, companies and govermental bodies.
http://www.davidboxley.com/
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