Peter Smith

Peter Smith is a Kwakwaka’wakw carver that has been working in the wood mediums since 1995 when he began his carving career studying under the watchful eyes of carver Winadzi James. Although he began carving in 1995, his exposure to the art form began in early childhood when he watched artists such as Walter (Long-John) Smith, Sam Johnson, Jack James, and Allan James while spending time in his home community of Gilford Island. Not only did he watch great carvers and artisans from a young age, he also learned the cultural traditions and meanings belonging to the masks and the songs that are sung with them. Peter enjoys learning and exploring the carving medium and has developed his own crisp, clean style that mixes the traditional and the contemporary.

Peter also has held the traditional name Giq-Kalas which is translated as “Son of Great Importance” since the age of four. At this time, he also began his training in traditional Kwakwaka’wakw dancing. His traditional name comes from Gilford Island and Alert Bay. Peter is very passionate about his culture and traditions and is proud to say that he has Hereditary Chief standing passed on to him from his father, the late Chief Charles Smith. His hereditary chieftainship is Chief Tlil mogi Lakw of the Musgamagw. He took on his father’s standing as chief in a Naming Feast he held in memory of his father, the late Chief Charles Smith on Oct 22, 2011. During this feast, he gave a name to his first grandchild.

Peter has been involved in several events in his career:

Young Bloods art show at the Douglas Reynolds Gallery October 1998

Down From The Shimmering Sky at Vancouver Art Gallery 1998

McMichael Art Gallery 1998 – 1999, Toronto

Portland Art Museum 1999 – Portland

Southwest Museum 2000 – Los Angeles

Stonington Gallery / Coghlan Art Collection 2000 – Seattle

Nawalakw (The Supernatural World), 1999 at the Quintana Gallery – Portland

Tlakuagila (Copper-Maker), 2000 at Quintana Gallery – Portland

Spirit Transform, 2001 at the Coastal Peoples Fine Art Gallery – Vancouver