James Hart, Chief 7idansuu

Haida

Carver, Jeweller

Jim Hart is one of the most established and prominent Northwest Coast artists in Canada. He has created some of the most beautiful and intricate work in the Northwest Coast art world.

At the beginning of his impressive career, which has spanned several decades, Hart worked with renowned Haida artists Robert Davidson and Bill Reid. In doing so he participated in the creation of some of the best known contemporary Northwest Coast artworks in Canada, including "The Raven and the First Men" by Bill Reid at the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver.

Hart has made several of his own monumental works that are located in major Canadian museums and galleries. In 1979, he was commissioned by the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria to carve a 7’ X 9’ foot cedar Dogfish Screen. In 2000 Hart carved the replacement to a Bill Reid pole within the Haida Village behind the Museum of Anthropology and in 2008 he carved the Celebration of Bill Reid Pole now located in The Bill Reid Gallery in Vancouver. In 2011 his large bronze, "The Three Watchmen", was installed outside of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa as part of their permanent collection. Most recently he completed his largest project to date, "The Dance Screen (The Scream Too). It measures 11' x 16' and is a testament to his extraordinarily fine carving.

Hart comes from a long line of Haida chiefs who were carvers. As Chief of the Eagle Clan since 1999, he holds the name and hereditary title of his great-great-grandfather, Charles Edenshaw: 7idansuu. For this occasion he held a potlatch and raised a 55' totem pole in Massett, on Haida Gwaii.