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 1978 1979 Hunt carves an 8-foot totem pole for the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris. 1980 1982 1983 1984 1985 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 Hunt carves two 15-foot poles for the British Columbia pavilion at EXPO 86 in Vancouver. 1987 Carved a 30-foot totem pole for the pavilion at EXPO 88 in Brisbane, Australia. 1988 1989 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 Richard Hunt has his first solo gallery art show in Vancouver, British Columbia. His fourteen piece exhibition was a great success. 1991 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 20-foot totem pole for a private collector in Aspen, Colorado.
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