Susan Point (Coast Salish b. 1952)
Salish Dancer Totem
Sandblasted and blown glass with gold leaf, on base
Provenance: James R. (Jim) Houston Estate
Size: 40 h x 17 ½ w x 3 d in (with base 41 x 22 ¼ x 8 in)
ZP19780
Susan Point is known for her innovation in modern Coast Salish art and is credited for its current popularity. Born in Alert Bay, she grew up on the Musqueam Indian Reserve in Vancouver. While mostly self-taught, she did receive training with Master carver John Livingston. She joined a group of artists interested in reviving Coast Salish artistic traditions in art and design, for which very little research had been done at the time. She set out to intensively study the formal characteristics in historical Salish art in the Royal BC Museum and UBC Museum of Anthropology. Her historical studies laid the foundation for her later production in new media including glass, bronze and concrete. “Salish Dancer Totem” is carved glass with a sand blasted totem design in the center surrounded by gold leaf formline patterns, mounted on a base with an irregular edge.