New Exhibition Celebrates the Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Artist Bill Reid

Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art re-opens the gallery and celebrates the milestone centennial birthday of Bill Reid (1920–1998) with an exhibition about his extraordinary life and legacy, To Speak With a Golden Voice, from July 16, 2020, to April 11, 2021.

The exhibition will cover four thematic threads tying together the fabric of Reid’s life and legacy, including Voice (his career at CBC and his thoughts on Northwest Coast art), Process (his creative journey), Lineage (works by contemporary artists influenced by Reid’s work), and Legacy (short film interviews with those who knew him best).

Reid was born in Victoria, BC, to a Haida mother and an American father with Scottish-German roots. He began exploring his Haida heritage at the age of 23, starting a journey of discovery that would last a lifetime. He studied jewellery making while working at CBC in Toronto, but it wasn’t until a trip to Haida Gwaii in 1954 that his creative trajectory shifted irreversibly. His time on the island introduced him to the work of his great-great-uncle Charles Edenshaw (no relation to Gwaai Edenshaw), inspiring him to create new works out of his ancestor’s sketches. Reid became known for making exquisitely detailed pieces, which were eventually translated into larger formats as he moved into monumental carvings. Some of his most iconic works today include Chief of the Undersea World, The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, and Raven and the First Men.

Bill Reid Gallery is following the recommended provincial health and safety guidelines and will limit the number of visitors to ensure 2-metre social distancing.

Other measures will include: