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Reg Davidson
Canadian - Haida, born 1954
A member of the Eagle moiety, Ts’al’lanas lineage, Reg Davidson began carving argillite in 1972. Argillite is the proprietary regional stone only found on Haida Gwaii. He comes from Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C. as well as from a family of acclaimed artists including brother Robert Davidson, father Claude Davidson, and grandmother Florence Davidson. Davidson works with carving, silk screen prints, weaving, jewelry, and the creation of performance regalia. His work has been shown and collected internationally. Davidson was awarded the 2008 BC Creative Achievement Award for First Nations Art.
Davidson and his brother formed the Rainbow Creek Dancers in 1980, establishing themselves as accomplished singers and dancers in the traditional Haida style. Davidson produces much of the regalia for the group—including masks, drums, and dance capes—and this involvement has greatly influenced the development of his distinctive carving style. His understanding of a mask’s function while used within a performance impacts the way in which he carves them as useful items rather than merely aesthetic pieces.
Davidson and his brother formed the Rainbow Creek Dancers in 1980, establishing themselves as accomplished singers and dancers in the traditional Haida style. Davidson produces much of the regalia for the group—including masks, drums, and dance capes—and this involvement has greatly influenced the development of his distinctive carving style. His understanding of a mask’s function while used within a performance impacts the way in which he carves them as useful items rather than merely aesthetic pieces.