William Ronald Reid (1920-1998)
One of
Canada's most celebrated and accomplished
artists. Also one of the finest artists who have worked in the tradition of the
First Nations people.
Reid journeyed to Skidegate in
Haida Gwaii at the age of 23 to meet his maternal
grandfather Charles Gladstone, where he was first introduced to the
Haida way of life. Subsequently, he began to study Northwest Coast art during visits to the
Royal Ontario Museum in
Toronto. Reid also studied
Haida art in books and in other museums, while studying
jewellery making and design at
Ryerson Technical Institute. Reid then moved to
British Columbia to pursue a career as an
artist and collaborated on a multitude of
projects that revolved around
Haida culture and
art.
The media Reid worked in included
cedar,
precious metals,
bronze,
argillite and
ink on paper. His works ranged from engraved
gold jewellery to massive
bronze sculptures.
Reid’s works are now displayed in private
museum and
gallery collections throughout the world. One significant work,
The Raven and the First Men (a yellow-
cedar sculpture) can be seen in the
University of British Columbia's Museum of
Anthropology.
The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, a
bronze sculpture depicting a
Haida canoe filled with
Bear,
Raven,
Eagle,
Frog,
Man and other creatures was commissioned for the
Canadian Embassy in
Washington,
D.C. A
jade-coloured replica of this sculpture can be seen in the new international terminal of the
Vancouver International Airport.
In addition, Reid is the author of
Out of the Silence,
The Raven Steals the Light with Robert Bringhurst, and with Bill Holm,
Indian Art of the Northwest Coast: A Dialogue on Craftsmanship and Aesthetics.