Lummi Nation carver Felix Solomon to speak at WWU May 21

[ Editor's note: The article has been amended to reflect the fact that First Nations artist Robert Davidson will not be able to attend, and his lecture has been cancelled. ]

Lummi Nation carver Felix Solomon will give a public presentation on carving and wood working traditions from 10 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. on Friday, May 21 in room 238 of the Fine Arts Building on Western Washington University’s campus.

The presentation will focus on the art of wood carving – including Felix’s current project of a shovel-nosed canoe – and bentwood boxes, a native art form that uses one piece of steamed wood to create a box that can be used for storage, ceremonial purposes, or cooking.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

A member of the Lummi Nation tribe and of Haida descent, Felix Solomon taught himself the technique of creating the bentwood box, a lost native art specific to the Pacific Northwest coastal region. In addition to crafting bentwood boxes, Solomon carves traditional Coast Salish masks and is working on the first shovel-nosed canoe in generations.

For more information about this public lecture, please call (360) 650-2829.