Haida Eagle, 1992
by Clarence Mills, Haida
Silkscreen, Edition of 313
31.5" high x 25.5" wide
Clarence Mills is a member of the Haida nation, a group that inhabits the northern coast of British Columbia. Born into the Wilson family at Skidegate, Queen Charlotte Islands in 1958, he is a member of the Eagle Clan and takes the Split Raven and Grizzly Bear as his crests. His grandfather, Jimmy Wilson, was hereditary Chief Skedans. His great-grandfather, carver Henry Young, gave him his Haida name – Gahghinskuss, meaning ‘out of your own land’.
With guidance from his uncle, Doug Wilson, Clarence began studying traditional Haida art at the age of eighteen. He has since produced carvings in ivory, argillite and wood, including monumental-size totem poles for international events, as well as engraved jewelry and limited-edition serigraph prints. Clarence incorporates the traditional designs of his people with a contemporary feel. He is well known for his simplistic and distinctive style that reflects traditional Haida images.
Over the past 20 years, Clarence has established himself in Canada, the United States and Europe. Of note, Clarence carved a full size pole for the Louvre in France, where he met the French Prime Minister, Jacques Chirac, at the pole’s raising.
