Kesu : the art and life of Doug Cranmer

Book

Kesu : the art and life of Doug Cranmer / Jennifer Kramer ; with Gloria Cranmer Webster and Solen Roth.

Kramer, Jennifer. (Author). University of British Columbia. Museum of Anthropology. (Added Author).

Summary:

Northwest Coast Kwakwaka'wakw art is renowned for its flamboyant, energetic, and colourful carving and painting. Among the best-known practitioners was Doug Cranmer, whose style was understated, elegant, fresh, and unique and whose work quickly found an international following in the 1960s. Named K'esu', or Wealth Being Carved, as a child, he was an early player in the global, commercial art market and one of the first Native artists in British Columbia to own his own gallery. A long-time teacher, he inspired generations of young Native artists in Alert Bay and beyond. This beautifully illustrated book is a record of the art, life, and influence of a man who called himself a "whittler" or "doodler" but who embodied "indigenous modern" well before the term had been coined. He pioneered abstract and non-figurative paintings using Northwest Coast ovoids and U-shapes; embraced the practice of silk-screening on wood, paper, and burlap; and adapted power tools to new applications in art. Skilfully weaving recollections from his friends and family, facts about his life and examples of his stunning artwork, K'esu' is a wide-ranging celebration of Doug Cranmer and his profound influence on Kwakwaka'wakw art.

Record details

ISBN: 9780295991443
ISBN: 0295991445
ISBN: 9781553658597
ISBN: 1553658590
Physical Description: vii, 142 pages : chiefly color illustrations ; 27 cm
Edition: 1st.
Publisher: Vancouver : Douglas & McIntire : 2012.

Content descriptions

General Note:: "Published in conjunction with the exhibition Kesu': The Art and Life of Doug Cranmer, organized by the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia and showing from March 16, 2012."
Bibliography, etc. Note:: Includes bibliographical references (pages 136-139).
Formatted Contents Note:: K̓esu̕ : "wealth being carved" / by Gloria Cranmer Webster -- The contrarian : "always his own man" / by Jennifer Kramer -- The pragmatist : "better than working for a living" / by Jennifer Kramer and Solen Roth -- The individualist : "nothing to prove to anyone" / by Jennifer Kramer -- The iconoclast : "I always figured it could be done" / by Jennifer Kramer and Solen Roth -- The mentor : "Don't lose the centre line" / by Jennifer Kramer -- Doug Kranmer : "indigenous modern artist"? / by Jennifer Kramer.