Reid, Bill
Item
name
Reid, Bill
firstName
Bill
lastName
Reid, Bill
Biography
"Bill Reid (1920-1998) was an acclaimed master goldsmith, carver, sculptor, writer, broadcaster, mentor and community activist. Reid was born in Victoria, BC to a Haida mother and an American father with Scottish German roots, and only began exploring his Haida roots at the age of 23. This journey of discovery lasted a lifetime and shaped Reid's artistic career.
The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art was created in 2008 to honour his legacy and celebrate the diverse indigenous cultures of the Northwest Coast. Bill Reid infused Haida traditions with his own modernist aesthetic to create both exquisitely small as well as monumental work that captured the public's imagination, and introduced a timeless vocabulary to the modern world.
Reid became a pivotal force in building bridges between Indigenous people and other peoples. Through his mother, he was a member of the Raven clan from T'aanuu with the wolf as one of his family crests. Raven is known as a mischievous trickster, who also plays an important part in transforming the world. Many of these traits matched Bill Reid's personality. In 1986, Reid was presented with the Haida name Yaahl Sgwansung, meaning The Only Raven."
The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art was created in 2008 to honour his legacy and celebrate the diverse indigenous cultures of the Northwest Coast. Bill Reid infused Haida traditions with his own modernist aesthetic to create both exquisitely small as well as monumental work that captured the public's imagination, and introduced a timeless vocabulary to the modern world.
Reid became a pivotal force in building bridges between Indigenous people and other peoples. Through his mother, he was a member of the Raven clan from T'aanuu with the wolf as one of his family crests. Raven is known as a mischievous trickster, who also plays an important part in transforming the world. Many of these traits matched Bill Reid's personality. In 1986, Reid was presented with the Haida name Yaahl Sgwansung, meaning The Only Raven."
Date of Birth
January 12, 1920
Death Event
March 13, 1998
Education
Studied Haida Art under Charles Gladstone
Studied jewelry making at the Ryerson Institute of Technology
University of British Columbia - Honorary Degree
University of Toronto - Honorary Degree
University of Victoria - Honorary Degree
University of Western Ontario - Honorary Degree
York University - Honorary Degree
Trent University - Honorary Degree
Studied jewelry making at the Ryerson Institute of Technology
University of British Columbia - Honorary Degree
University of Toronto - Honorary Degree
University of Victoria - Honorary Degree
University of Western Ontario - Honorary Degree
York University - Honorary Degree
Trent University - Honorary Degree
Title
Reid, Bill
Item sets
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
 Unfinished Drawing of Central Figure in 'Spirit of Haida Gwaii' |
Image | |
 Dogfish |
Image |