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Mark Henderson
Kwakiutl Artist
Mark Henderson was born in 1953
and is a member of the Wewaikum Bank in Campbell River. HIs father,
the late Chief Sam Henderson, was a well known Kwakiutl carver. Born
in Blunden Harbour, Sam Henderson was raised in the strict tradions
of Kwakiutl culture. Mark’s mother, the late Mae Quocksister Henderson,
was the eldest daught of a high-ranking family of the Wewaikum Band.
Mark’s parents were keen to pass on their cultural traditions to their
children. Mark says they were a major influence on his early artistic
developement. “they wanted me to be familiar with my cultural backgroung,
and taught me the legends, songs and dances that have been part of my
family heritage for many generations. The traditional potlatch is still
an important ceremony to the Kwakiutl people. I have
been involved in many potlatches, from designing and painting the large
dance screens and masks to performing the dances that belong to my
family.” Mark began painting traditional Kwakiutl designs at the age
of eleven and received much enocouragement from his father. He spent
many hours in his father’s workshop watching him carve and paint. Under
his guidance Marck learned the principles of Kwakiutl design. He also
studied the work of other great kwakiutl artists, including Henry Speck,
Mungo Martin, and Willie Seaweed. Mark works mainly with acrylic paint
on paper, then produces limited edition silkscreen prints from his original
paintings. His work is influenced by contemporary events as well as
by the old style Kwakuitl artists. “Sonetimes when I’m at a potlach
I see a dance or a mask in the firelight that appeals to me and I create
a painting based on that. I believe it is important to maintain traditional
elements and colour in my art, but I also like to experiment and develop
my creative ideas.” Mark has introduced landscape into his prints, placing
traditional Kwakiutl figures in the background that features the unique
west coast. These works are very complex, and are some of his favorite
pieces. Mark has been developing themes that trace inspirations through
a series of prints which are related in subject, colour and content.
Drum Maker
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