Tim Alfred
Tim Alfred was born in 1967 in Alert Bay, British Columbia and moved to the village of Fort Rupert, B.C., Canada, in 1985.
His family tree includes the banks of Kwakiutl (Fort Rupert), Namgis (Alert Bay), Mumtagila (Etsekin and area), Mamaleleqala (Village Island) and Tlowitsis (Turnour Island).
At a memorial potlatch for his brother in 1989, his mother's family placed him in the family's Chief position at the Big House in Alert Bay, B.C. where he received the name "Mus-cum-tsi", which symbolizes the four clans of the Kwakwaka'wakw Nation.
Tim first started carving in the world-renowned Kwakiutl style at the age of 20 and was mainly taught by Stanley Hunt. Wayne Alfred, Beau Dick, and Calvin Hunt were also influences in his carving career. As a young artist he was able to learn techniques in making bentwood boxes, planking from cedar trees, carve masks, paddles, model canoes, and making regalia for traditional use in the Big House.
Some of his other projects include two drums and twenty paddles he made for the Fort Rupert Elementary School in 1998. He has also done charity work for memorial trophies and made donations to various fundraising events in his community, including the reconstruction auction to benefit work for the Big House in Alert Bay. His work sells to many galleries including sales to museums in Alert Bay and the Royal British Museum in Victoria.
Recently, he has had the opportunity to work on totem poles with Calvin Hunt, Mervin Child, and David Knox for the Kwakiutl Band day care project in Fort Rupert.
His family tree includes the banks of Kwakiutl (Fort Rupert), Namgis (Alert Bay), Mumtagila (Etsekin and area), Mamaleleqala (Village Island) and Tlowitsis (Turnour Island).
At a memorial potlatch for his brother in 1989, his mother's family placed him in the family's Chief position at the Big House in Alert Bay, B.C. where he received the name "Mus-cum-tsi", which symbolizes the four clans of the Kwakwaka'wakw Nation.
Tim first started carving in the world-renowned Kwakiutl style at the age of 20 and was mainly taught by Stanley Hunt. Wayne Alfred, Beau Dick, and Calvin Hunt were also influences in his carving career. As a young artist he was able to learn techniques in making bentwood boxes, planking from cedar trees, carve masks, paddles, model canoes, and making regalia for traditional use in the Big House.
Some of his other projects include two drums and twenty paddles he made for the Fort Rupert Elementary School in 1998. He has also done charity work for memorial trophies and made donations to various fundraising events in his community, including the reconstruction auction to benefit work for the Big House in Alert Bay. His work sells to many galleries including sales to museums in Alert Bay and the Royal British Museum in Victoria.
Recently, he has had the opportunity to work on totem poles with Calvin Hunt, Mervin Child, and David Knox for the Kwakiutl Band day care project in Fort Rupert.
