Calvin Hunt

Calvin Allan Hunt is the youngest son of Kwagu’l Hereditary Chief Thomas Hunt, and Emma, the daughter of a great Mowachaht Chief and Shaman, Dr. Billy, from Yuquot (Friendly Cove). He is also the grandson of renowned carver Mungo Martin and grandmother, Abayah. In 2004 Calvin was inducted into the prestigious Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, and honoured with the BC Creative Achievement Award for Aboriginal Art in 2009.

Born into a wealth of traditional values, from 1972 to 1981, Calvin carved full time as an apprentice with Tony Hunt, Sr. (Arts of the Raven Gallery, Victoria, BC.). Moving to his ancestral home of Fort Rupert in 1981, Calvin and his wife, Marie, opened their carving workshop “The Copper Maker” and in 1989 opened the retail art gallery. The gallery’s prophecy has come true, as the gallery and workshop is steeped in a wealth of traditional and contemporary fine art.

Calvin continues working in wood, including canoe building; silk-screened prints, gold and silver jewelry, bronze and stone carving.

An accomplished dancer and respected member of the Kwakwaka’wakw community, Calvin believes it is important to attend and take part in our feasts and potlatches that take place in the guwkzi (Bighouse). These ceremonies are an integral part of our culture; it teaches us respect, humility, honour; it teaches us who we are.