Bird in the Air , 2013

Acquired directly from the artist Kinsman Robinson Gallery, Toronto Private Collection, Toronto

“Expanding the Circle: Robert Davidson and the Ancient Language of Haida Art”, Art Gallery of Hamilton, 11 Feb - 28 May, 2017

Robert Davidson is a leading figure in the renaissance of Haida art and culture. His Haida name is Guud Sans Glans which means "Eagle of the Dawn". The eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is respected for its intelligence and power, as well as its sharp vision. Eagles are one of Davidson’s favourite subjects, as seen in the striking red and blue “Bird in the Air” sculpture. Robert Davidson began carving at the age of thirteen when his father insisted he carry on the family artistic tradition. He moved to Vancouver for high school, where he deepened his knowledge of fine art as well as of the culture of the Haida Nation, which had all but vanished in his native village of Massett. In the late 1960s, Davidson enrolled at the Vancouver School of Art, and received training from fellow Haida sculptor Bill Reid. “Bird in the Air” is an example of the artist’s modern, skillfully rendered sculptures that celebrate his Haida heritage.