Moon Frontlet, 1997
by Jay Brabant, Metis Cree
yellow cedar, pigment
8” high x 7.5” wide x 3” deep
Jay Brabant was born January 5, 1970 in Victoria, British Columbia. Jay started to carve at the age of eight under the tutelage of his father Gene Brabant. Gene was taught by Kwakwaka’wakw master carver Tony Hunt at the Arts of The Raven Program in the early ‘70s.
With his father, Jay traveled across the United States and Canada visiting museums and studying the old pieces. Jay derived inspiration from these ancient treasures, combining this knowledge with working skills learned from his father and the world-renowned Hunt family.
Though primarily working in the Kwakwaka’wakw style, Jay continues to learn the art form, expanding his studies to the Bella Coola and Tlingit traditional works. Jay's carving is particularly clean in its execution and rates highly among his fellow carvers. His work can be found in important private and corporate collections worldwide, and is featured in the book Northwest Carving Traditions by Karen and Ralph Norris.
