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Name (English only)

William Hiłamas Edward Jr. Wasden

Brief_Bio

b. 1967

Artist Detail - v3

'Namgis; Kwakwaka'wakw
William Hilamas Edward Wasden Jr. (Wak'analagalis) "The River Runs Through Him Forever" is a member of the 'Namgis tribe of the Kwakwaka'wakw. He is a descendant of the Cook, Hunt, Alfred, Harris and Inis families. He can also trace his ancestry to the Tlingit of Alaska and the Mowachat of the West Coast. He has been initiated into the Hamat'sa Secret Society, the highest-ranking dance society of the Kwakwaka'wakw.

His artistic abilities have been developed through teachings from Chief Douglas Cranmer; and working with Simon and Francis Dick. In later years William's style was greatly influences by Haida Artist Don Yeomans. William's inspirational influences of old are the late Chiefs and Artists, Bob Harris, Herbert Johnson, Mungo Martin, Willie Seaweed, Henry Speck, and Charlie G. Walkus. William works mostly in flat design but also creates pieces in a variety of mediums. Most of his pieces have been commissions from families needing Potlatch paraphernalia, and they remain in the cultural world.

He has a great interest in singing and preserving the ancient songs of his people. Under the mentoring of the last song keeper composer, the late Chief Tom Willie and wife Elsie. William has been groomed as a song keeper and composer for Kwakwaka'wakw ceremony and everyday enjoyment. William has taught many of the young, up and coming singers and continues to contribute to cultural preservation by learning the songs of old. He continues to compose and bring forth songs when occasions call for new songs. He has trained other singers to record 3 CD's to assist his tribe in their efforts to fundraiser for various events needing funding. The CD titles are "One Nation One Voice", "Rising From The Ashes" and "Laxwe'gila".*

*Cited from www.pacificeditions.ca

Artworks

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ImageTitleDate MadePlace MadeCollectionsMaterialsMeasurementsEditionCredit Line
Tree Of LifeTree Of Life1993/03/01'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 43.00 cm x 46.00 cm x 0.00 cm3/150Canada Council for the Arts Acquisition Grant, Purchased from the Collection of Vincent Rickard
ButterflyButterflyn.d.'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperGraphiteoverall: 36.00 cm x 28.00 cm-Gift of Vincent Rickard
SwansSwans1998'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on Paper-overall: 27.50 cm x 48.50 cm121/160Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
MothMothn.d.'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperGraphiteoverall: 36.00 cm x 28.00 cm-Gift of Vincent Rickard
EagleEagle1996'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 39.25 cm x 22.25 cm1/299Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
MosquitoMosquito1999'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 25.00 cm x 38.00 cm161/299Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
Kulus and GwayamKulus and Gwayam1994/07/01'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 38.50 cm x 49.50 cm x 0.00 cm130/155Canada Council for the Arts Acquisition Grant, Purchased from the Collection of Vincent Rickard
Kulus and GwayamKulus and Gwayamn.d.'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 38.25 cm x 49.50 cm3/155Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
The Kwakwaka'wakwThe Kwakwaka'wakw1997'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 50.00 cm x 47.00 cm2/200Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
LoonLoon1999'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 27.75 cm x 38.50 cm140/299Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
DragonflyDragonfly2000'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 35.50 cm x 28.00 cmPp (edition 299)Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
LoonLoon2002'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 51.00 cm x 56.00 cmPp (edition 160)Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
BabakwaBabakwa1998'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 70.00 cm x 56.00 cmArtist's ProofGift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
DragonflyDragonflyn.d.'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperGraphiteoverall: 36.00 cm x 28.00 cm-Gift of Vincent Rickard
Dtis'dtan Wak'analaglis (Mosquito)Dtis'dtan Wak'analaglis (Mosquito)n.d.'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperGraphite, Inkoverall: 41.00 cm x 51.00 cm-Gift of Vincent Rickard
MothMoth2000'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 36.00 cm x 29.25 cmPp (edition 299)Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
BlackfishBlackfishn.d.'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 38.00 cm x 45.75 cm4/165Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
WolfWolf1999'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 30.25 cm x 38.00 cm159/299Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
BumblebeeBumblebeen.d.'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperGraphiteoverall: 36.00 cm x 28.00 cm-Gift of Vincent Rickard
OrcaOrca1997'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 41.00 cm x 38.25 cmPp (edition 160)Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
Dance ScreenDance Screen1997'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 42.50 cm x 38.50 cm x 0.00 cmPrinters ProofCanada Council for the Arts Acquisition Grant, Purchased from the Collection of Vincent Rickard
ButterflyButterfly2000'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 35.50 cm x 29.00 cmPp (edition 299)Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
RavenRavenn.d.'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperGraphite, Inkoverall: 38.00 cm x 51.00 cm-Gift of Vincent Rickard
RavenRaven1996'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 22.00 cm x 44.00 cmPp (edition:299)Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
Killer Whale MaxinuxwKiller Whale Maxinuxwn.d.'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperGraphite, Inkoverall: 38.00 cm x 50.50 cm-Gift of Vincent Rickard
FrogFrog1999'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 27.75 cm x 38.25 cm142/299Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
BeeBee2000'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 35.50 cm x 27.75 cmPp (edition 299)Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
SockeyeSockeyen.d.'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperGraphite, Inkoverall: 38.00 cm x 51.00 cm-Gift of Vincent Rickard
BlackfishBlackfish1996'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 25.50 cm x 44.00 cmPp (edition 299)Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
The Boy in the MoonThe Boy in the Moon2000'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 38.50 cm x 56.50 cmArtist's proof 2 (edition 160)Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
The Mouth of HeavenThe Mouth of Heaven1998'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 51.25 cm x 43.00 cmPp (edition 160)Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
SalmonSalmon1996'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperSerigraphoverall: 26.00 cm x 44.00 cmPp (edition:299)Gift from the Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
U'ligan A'tla'nam WolfU'ligan A'tla'nam Wolf1998'Yalis (Alert Bay); British Columbia; CanadaWorks on PaperGraphite, inkoverall: 41.00 cm x 51.00 cm-Gift of Vincent Rickard
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