Mask depicting Listener
by Johnathan Henderson, Kwakwaka'wakw First Nation
red cedar, cedar bark, pigment
18” high x 10.5” wide x 9” deep
Johnathan Maxwell Henderson is a member of the Campbell River Weiwaikum Band. He was born in Alert Bay, B.C. in 1969 to Sharon Whonnock and Dan Henderson. As a child, Johnathan had the rare opportunity to watch his grandfather, the renowned carver Sam Henderson, making totem poles. The work of his grandfather left a deep impression on Johnathan and at the young age of 13 he began carving and designing himself. In 1986 Johnathan moved to Campbell River where he studied and learned more about Kwakwaka’wakw art styles from his father and uncles Mark and Bill Henderson, all of whom are well known carvers. Johnathan’s favorite materials to work with are the traditional red and yellow cedar, which have become increasingly scarce. In addition to masks and model poles, he also creates original paintings and serigraphs. When Johnathan was initiated into the secret society of the Hamatsa as a dancer, his father gave him the name ‘hak ‘ hakya galis’ which means the man standing open-mouthed on the beach. He is currently learning traditional songs under the tutelage of Chief Frank Nelson and listening to recordings of his elders.
