HAROLD ALFRED
Heritage
- Kwakiult
Harold Alfred was born in Alert Bay, British
Columbia into the Namgis Tribe in 1953 and is a
member of the Kwakwaka’wakw (formerly Kwakiult)
Nation. He holds Sisiutl, Sun and Thunderbird as his
family crests.
His interest in Kwakwaka'wakw art and culture began
at an early age, and he completed the 'Indian Arts
and Crafts Ethnology Course' under Peter McNair at
the B.C. Provincial Museum in the early 1970s. After
establishing himself as a wood carver, Harold turned
to silver and began creating jewellery. He is well
known for his pendants, cuff bracelets and earrings
in sterling silver, and many of his pieces contain
unique cut-outs as well. Harold produces outstanding
work that has a contemporary feel with a strong
sense of the past. Alfred shows his respect for his
heritage by following the standards set by past
masters and strives to develop a distinct style
which clearly depicts the strong traditional designs
true to Kwakiult art form.
Since the early 1980s, Harold has taught numerous
classes in design, carving and jewellery making in
Nanaimo, B.C. In 2005, Harold was featured in the
'Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation 2'
exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design in New
York.