Tim
Alfred
Affiliation: Kwakwaka’wakw
Birth Date: 1967
Birth Place: Alert Bay, British Columbia
Tim Alfred was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia
in 1967 and moved to the village of Fort Rupert in 1985. His family tree
includes the bands of Kwaguilth (Fort Rupert), Namgis (Alert Bay), Mumtagila
(Etsekin), Mamalelegala (Village Island) and Tlowitsis (Turnor Island).
In 1989, at a memorial potlatch for his brother,
his mother’s family placed him in the family's chief position at
the Bighouse in Alert Bay 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 highly inspired and influenced
by the work of well-known artists such as Stan Hunt, Wayne Alfred, Beau
Dick and Calvin Hunt. As a young artist he was able to learn techniques
for making bentwood boxes, planks from cedar logs, mask carving, paddles,
model canoes and the making of dance regalia for traditional use in the
bighouse.
Some of his other projects include two drums and
twenty paddles he made for the Fort Rupert elementary school in 1998.
He as also done charity work for memorial trophies and made donations
to various fund raising events in his community, including the auction
to benefit the reconstruction of the Alert Bay Bighouse. His work sells
in many galleries including sales to museums in Alert Bay and Victoria.
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