Ron Telek Nisga'a Artist
Ron Telek is a talented carver and storyteller whose subject matter mainly revolves around spirituality that deals with shamanism, transformation and the ongoing struggles between good and evil.
In 1983, while attending high school in Vancouver, Ron began carving under the guidance of his uncle, Norman Tait. He began familiarizing himself with the traditional form and progressed to perfecting
his technique. Telek assisted Norman Tait on a number of important totem pole commissions. Since then, Telek has explored a style of his own, informed by, but not necessarily conforming to, the traditional
northwest coast tribal style. The emergence of this individual style came about from a life and death experience by Telek. Consequently he attended the Art Program at Langara College in Vancouver for two years
where he studied African, Japanese and Italian sculpting techniques, as well as the human form. This is apparent in his unique style of work incorporating carving and sculpting.
His work is distinguished by dimensionality, precise carving, sinuous lines and fluid shapes. Telek has great respect for the natural beauty of wood, and often leaves his pieces completely unpainted using the
wood grain to add to the illusion of motion and transformation within the mask.
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