Richard Hunt
Pacific Northwest Native Sculptor
The following personal history of Native American sculptor, Richard Hunt traces his career development and chronicles many of his major
sculptural works and contributions:
1976
Hunt carves a 15-foot totem pole for the Museum of Ethnology
in Osaka, Japan.
1978
With Nuu-cha-nulth artist Tim Paul, Hunt carves a 15-foot totem
pole for the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Middlesborough, England,
to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Cook’s arrival on
Vancouver Island.
1979
Hunt completes his first solo pole, a 26-foot totem erected at the
main entrance at the British Columbia Provincial Museum.
Hunt carves an 8-foot totem pole for the Canadian Cultural Centre in
Paris.
1980
Hunt carves and erects a 15-foot pole at the City Art Centre
in Edinburgh, Scotland, in conjunction with the Edinburgh Festival.
1982
Assisted by Tim Paul, Hunt carved and erected a 35-foot pole
for the CBC Headquarters in Vancouver.
1983
Hunt carves a 12-foot memorial totem in memory of Chief Freddie
Williams.
1984
Hunt carves and erects a 15-foot pole for the City of Liverpool,
England.
1985
At the request of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, Hunt travels with
Tim Paul to Windsor Great Park in England, to repair and repaint
the totem pole presented to Her Majesty in 1958 by the Province
of British Columbia in honor of her centennial visit to British Columbia. The
pole was carved by Richard Hunt's grandfather, Mungo Martin and
his father Henry Hunt. While repainting the pole, Richard met and
talked with the Queen when she visited the work site.
Along with Tim Paul and Eugene Arima, Hunt creates a 37-foot long Nuu-
chah-nulth whaling canoe. This canoe was on exhibit at EXPO 86 in
Vancouver, and has been used on many occasions by the Royal British
Columbia Museum.
1986
With Tim Paul, Hunt carves a 25-foot pole for the Southwest Museum
in California.
Hunt carves two 15-foot poles for the British Columbia pavilion at EXPO
86 in Vancouver.
1987
Hunt carves a 12-foot totem pole for the city of Duncan, British Columbia.
Carved a 30-foot totem pole for the pavilion at EXPO 88 in Brisbane,
Australia.
1988
Hunt carves the world's largest-in-diameter totem pole for the
City of Duncan, British Columbia. This pole stands 24 feet high and has a diameter
of 7 feet at the top.
1989
Hunt carves a 20-foot pole for a private collector on Bowen Island,
British Columbia.
Hunt designs and paints an 8x12 foot dance screen for the Canadian
Museum of Civilization, in Ottawa. John Livingston assisted with
the painting.
Hunt carves a bear transformation mask for the Science Museum of Minnesota.
The museum made a complete grizzly bear costume to go with it. This
costume took 3 bear hides sewn together.
1990
Hunt carves a 30-foot totem pole for a private collector in Los
Angeles, California.
Richard Hunt has his first solo gallery art show in Vancouver,
British Columbia. His fourteen piece exhibition was a great success.
1991
Hunt travels to Los Angeles to give carving demonstrations
at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, and the Natural History
Museum. He also travels to California State University for another demonstration
and lecture.
Hunt carves, as a private commission, a monumental plaque depicting the
Animal Kingdom from the Sea being summoned to dance in the Big House.
The plaque measures 15 x 6 feet, is two inches thick and is carved
in one-inch relief.
Hunt receives the prestigious Order of British Columbia in recognition
of his contributions to the artistic and cultural spheres in the
province.
Hunt carves a 4 x12 foot table for the First Peoples' Cultural Foundation
depicting Elder's Gathering.
1992
Hunt travels to New York to give a carving demonstration at
the American Museum of Natural History. While at the Museum, he
carves a 12-foot totem pole for the exhibit, Chiefly Feasts.
Hunt carves a 7.5 foot replica killer whale for a private collector.
Diazed and painted a 20-foot Kwaguilth housefront depicting Raven
and Sisuitl, on permanent display at Knott's Berry Farm, Los Angeles,
California.
Sat on the board for the selection of recipients to the Order of
British Columbia, 1992.
Along with Charles Elliot and Art Thompson, Hunt carves the Queen's Baton
used in the Commonwealth Games held in Victoria, British Columbia in 1994.
1993
Hunt is elected to the board of directors of Friends of the Royal British Columbia
Museum
Hunt receives the Canada 125 Medal in recognition of significant
contribution to compatriots, community and Canada.
Hunt is selected as one of the artists to provide the University
of Victoria with its Convocation ceremonial furnishings. Richard's
contribution was the Talking Stick; intricately carved with some
60 pieces of abalone.
Richard is asked by the Province of British Columbia to carve
the Speaker's clock. This clock was a gift to the Northwest Territories
for their new Legislative Buildings.
Hunt sits on the Project 21 Committee board to select native students
for an aboriginal studies program.
Hunt sits on the First Nations Artist Steering Committee. This is a joint committee
set- up with Small Business and Trade to aid native artists
in the marketing of their products.
Hunt travels to Washington, DC to perform a carving demonstration
and lecture at the prestigious Smithsonian Institution.
1994
Hunt's design, The Kulus, was chosen as the bronze medal
for the Commonwealth Games, Victoria, 1994.
Together with Coastline, Ltd. Richard produces the designs and
Coastline produces the garments, for the CBC, host broadcaster of the Commonwealth Games, Victoria, 1994.
Richard receives the most prestigious award of his career, The
Order of Canada.
Together with Butch Dick & Art Thompson, Richard is guest
curator at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria/Victoria Native
Friendship Centre’s Northwest Coast Exhibit “Nation
to Nation” from July 1 to September 4, 1994.
1995
Richard carves a 12-foot pole for the Investor's Group in Victoria, B.C., who then present the pole to Camosun College, Interurban.
This pole stands proudly in the newly constructed courtyard at the
college. Richard dedicates this pole in memory of his mother, Helen
Hunt.
He creates a design for the British Columbia Paraplegic Association to enable
the BCPA to raise funds in support of their cause.
Richard creates several designs for UVIC's Conference Management
Department for use as convention logos.
Richard continues to provide the Royal Victoria Marathon
with their design and logo which he has been doing since 1987.
He travels to Los Angeles, California to re-paint a totem he had carved
in 1985 for the Southwest Museum, Los Angeles. While there, he
receives a resolution from the City of Los Angeles for his artistic
contributions to the City.
Hunt has his second successful art exhibition at the Derek Simpkins
Gallery of Tribal Art in Vancouver, B.C. This show is the culmination
of nearly two years of work.
1996
Richard is selected by the Governor General of Canada to
join the seven-member Board to choose the logo and name for the new
Governor General’s Award. While in Ottawa, Richard is the
guest at Rideau Hall.
Richard travels to the Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona, to perform
a carving demonstration and lecture.
Richard re-paints the totem pole he carved for the Royal British
Columbia Museum in 1979.
Since 1987 Richard has done the logo for the Royal Victoria Marathon.
This year he donates a Moon Mask (value $5,000) to increase participation
in the race.
1997
Richard travels to the Heard Museum in Phoenix to demonstrate
his carving and culture.
Richard performs a carving demonstration and a series of lectures
at the Colorado State University and the Denver Art Museum. He also
carves a puppet which is on permanent display at the DAM.
Richard is commissioned by the prestigious Peabody Museum of Natural
History at Yale University to carve a sea monster mask.
Richard sponsors the "Big Open" to raise money for
Big Brothers and Big Sisters. This first annual golf tournament was
so successful, it raised $10,000 for the cause.
Richard launches a new line of clothing with his designs.
Richard continues to support the Royal Victoria Marathon with his
designs featured on the marathon shirt. Since Richard started working
with the marathon, the race participation has increased from 600
runners in 1987 to a record 2200 in 1997.
Richard begins his second term with the “Governor General’s
Caring Canadian Committee.”
1998
Richard begins a second term with the British Columiba Arts Council.
Richard begins working on a private commission for a client building
a home in Victoria. He designs two totem poles at the outside
entrance and a third totem inside the foyer.
Richard begins work on a commission for the Vancouver Airport. He
will carve a 16-foot killer whale, which will be situated over water,
and a 9-foot thunderbird. This magnificent carving will be proudly
displayed at the domestic terminal.
Richard’s work appears in an article in the June edition
of Architectural Digest.
The exhibit, "Down from the Shimmering Sky" Masks of
the Northwest Coast, opens at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Richard
has 11 pieces in this magnificent show.
Richard continues his support of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
This year's "Big Open" golf tournament raises over $12,000.
Richard performs a carving demonstration and informal lecture
at the Vancouver Art Gallery. He continues his work on "Arts
vs. Cultural Property."
Alcheringa Gallery in Victoria is home to the exhibit, "Voices
of Fort Rupert, the Hunt Family Carves." Richard has three
pieces in this show, which sell out in record time.
Richard is one of the artists selected to product artwork for
an Exciting development, Shoal Point
Richard completes work on the Vancouver Airport Project. The 16-foot
killer whale and the 9-foot thunderbird are proudly erected in the
domestic terminal.
1999
Richard completes work on a variety of projects for his
private collectors. Also completed are two 61" totem poles
for the Chinook Group in Toronto, Canada.
This year's "Richard Hunt Big Open" golf tournament raises
an amazing $13,000 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
Richard begins work on a 16-foot totem pole for a private
collector in New York.
Organization and work is well underway for a Richard Hunt retrospective
show at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in March, 2000. The
show, titled “Richard Hunt, Through My Father’s Eyes”
will run through August, 2000.
2000
Richard completes the 16-foot totem pole for the private
collector in New York.
Richard travels to the Detroit Institute of Arts to perform a carving
demonstration and lecture on "Arts vs. Cultural Property."
"Richard Hunt, Through My Father's Eyes" opens at the
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, March 16, 2000 and runs through
August 2000.
Richard continues with his private commissions of masks and carves
a welcome figure for his fourth in a series, bronze sculpture.
2001
Richard begins work on a 30-foot totem pole for the Portland
Community
College, Sylvannia Campus. The pole is erected on the campus May, 2001.
Richard begins work on a 20-foot totem pole for a private collector
in Aspen, Colorado.
Contact
Galleria Silecchia for more information on the works of Pacific Northwest Native sculptor, Richard Hunt.
Prices and availability
are subject to change.
The artist reserves all reproduction
and copyrights.
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