| The Copper Maker * is located at 114 Copper Way in Fort Rupert Village - just ten minutes drive from the B.C. Ferry terminal at Port Hardy. Built in 1983 by Calvin Hunt as a carving studio and workshop, The Copper Maker has quickly grown into one of the North Island's most popular attractions. The Copper Maker Gallery features works by some of British Columbia's most talented native artists. In addition to this, visitors can watch local artists at work in the carving studio downstairs. Collectors and appreciators of North West Coast Indian art can find or commission masks, totem poles, prints, pottery, jewellery, sculpture and Northwest Coast canoes. *The Copper is a symbol of wealth to the Kwakiutl people. The Copper Maker is an appropriate name for the gallery for it is steeped in a wealth of traditional work. |
| Calvin Hunt is the youngest son in a family of eight children. He was born into a wealth of traditions through both his father and mother. His father was a hereditary Chief of the Kwakiutl People of Fort Rupert. His mother, the daughter of a great Nootka Chief and Shaman, Dr. Billy. Since earliest childhood he molded a love for his culture; he learned his traditional dances practicing for his parents and grandparents (Chief Mungo Martin and Abaya) His artistic abilities showed promise at an early age through his sketches. He began carving at the age of 12. In 1972 he began carving full time as an apprentice under Tony Hunt (Arts and Raven Gallery, Victoria, BC). He remained with the gallery until 1982 at which time he moved to his ancestral home of Fort Rupert. In 1983 he opened his workshop "The Copper Maker". The prophecy of the gallery's name has come true as he now has three full time artists at the workshop, and occasionaly has up to four other artists working. |
In May, 1988, he carved and raised the Hunt Pole, with the assistance of his brothers, nephews and cousins, which is hereditarily owned by his oldest brother, George Hunt Sr. The pole stands outside his father and mother's home. He also carved a memorial grave figure for his father at the Fort Rupert cemetary. These poles were the first such poles to be raised in the village in approximately 70 years. With the resurgence of canoe building in 1993, Calvin and his nephew, Mervyn Child, carved a 32 foot Northern Style canoe which represented the Kwakiutl Nation at 'Quatuwas' in Bella Bella. This canoe is named after his mother, "Maxwalogwa", and belongs to the Maxwalogwa Canoe Society, Formed by Calvin and his wife, Marie. In 1995, during a potlatch given by Calvin and his brother, Ross Hunt Sr., he received his Chief's name, from his wife's side of the family, "Klasutiwaleese". In July of 1998 he was seated as the fourth primary Chief of the Mowachaht; the hereditary Chieftainship which belonged to his grandfather, Dr. Billy, of Tsuwana (Friendly Cove). His Chief's name being "Nas soom yees". |
