Description
Keith Wolfe Smarch belongs to the generation of Yukon artists who established the use of Tlingit art forms, sometimes with a considerable amount of effort. As a result, he regards traditional forms as being almost sacred; he reproduces them in a matter that is as unadulterated as possible. Keith is convinced that the formal elements – the ovoid, the U-shape and the split-U – that only occur in North West Coast art, will serve him as a source of inspiration for a long time to come. However, a number of young artists are already venturing to make their first experiments and are combining traditional forms with new ones. Keith has his misgivings about this development. He fears that Tlingit art will become diluted before it has had a chance to establish itself purely. The artist can be found at the carving facility on the Carcross waterfront.