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DIESING, Freda

Born
Prince Rupert, British Columbia, 1925
Died
Terrace, British Columbia, 2002
Biography synopsis
Freda Diesing, (Kant Wuss, Skill-kew-wat & Wee-hwe-doasl), was born in the Sadsugohilanes Clan of the Haida in British Columbia to Flossie and Frank Johnson. Her Haida name, Skill-kew-wat, translates roughly as Magical Little Woman. Diesing studied painting at the Vancouver School of Art, after which she developed an interest in her Haida heritage. At the age of forty-two, she undertook woodcarving apprenticeships under Tony Hunt, Henry Hunt, Bill Holm, Robert Davidson and Duane Pasco. Diesing’s ceremonial masks and totem poles, which often depict female forms and figures, led to recognition of her unique representation of Northwest Coast folklore. The artist’s textile works, including blankets and robes, also incorporate traditional First Nations forms and designs. In the 1970s, Diesing began to explore silkscreen printing and was later commissioned for a wall mural by the Prince Rupert General Hospital. Diesing was an influential instructor at the ‘Ksan Indian Art School in British Columbia. For a number of years, she also taught an annual seminar in carving in Ketchikan, Alaska. As a teacher and as an artist, Diesing has inspired many, including artists Dempsey Bob and Donnie Yeomans. She was instrumental in the revival of Northwest Coast art and received numerous awards, including the National Aboriginal Achievement Award from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, and an honorary doctorate from the University of British Columbia in 2002. The City of Prince Rupert, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs in Ottawa, the National Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto have all collected Diesing’s works. A selection of her totem poles currently stands in Prince Rupert and Terrace, British Columbia.
Media used
Jewellery making
Printmaking
Wood carving
Education
Kitanmax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art (under Robert Davidson; Bill Holm)
Vancouver School of Art
File & Archive locations
Thunder Bay Art Gallery, ON - Resource Centre
Vancouver Art Gallery, BC - Library
National Gallery of Canada, ON - Library and Archives
Toronto Reference Library, ON
Winnipeg Art Gallery, MA - Clara Lander Library
Canadian Museum of Civilization Archives, QC
Canadian Women Artists History Initiative Documentation Centre, QC
Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, ON
University of British Columbia Archives
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Writings about
A Dominican Experience: Three Aboriginal Artists of Canada in the Dominican Republic. Ottawa: Om Niiak Native Arts Group, 1989
The 4 Winds: Artists in Residence: Danilo Gonzalez, Freda Diesing, Peter J. Clair, Shirley Bear Dominican Republic: Altos de Chavon, 1988
Vielfaches echo : zeitgenössische kunst zwischen den kulturen. Stuttgart, Germany: Verlag für moderne Kunst, 1998
"Award-winning Aboriginal Carver Killed in Car Crash." Ottawa Citizen (7 Dec. 2002): A8
"Diesing Honoured (Aboriginal Achievement Awards)." Herizons 16.3 (Winter 2003): 11
"Haida Artist Was Celebrated for her Carvings." Globe and Mail (18 Mar. 2003): R7
"The Record." Citizens Centre Report 30.2 (20 Jan. 2003): 48
Acland, Joan Reid. "Freda Diesing." First Nations Artists in Canada: A Biographical/Bibliographical Guide, 1960-1999. Montreal: The Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Institute, (2001): 108-110
Acoose, Carolyn. "Changers: A Spiritual Renaissance." Muse 9.2 (Summer-Fall 1992): 86-87
Anderson, Richard L. & Field, Karen L. eds. Art in Small-scale Societies: Contemporary Readings. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1993
Arnold, Grant, et al. Topographies: Aspects of Recent B.C. Art Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1996
Baxter, Paula A. & Bird-Romero, Allison. Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry: A Guide to History, People, and Terms. Michigan: Oryx Press, 2000
Bear, Jeff & Jones, Marianne. "On The Trail of Property Woman." Ravens and Eagles: Haida Art. Vancouver: Moving Images Distribution, 2003
Bear, Shirley. Changers: A Spiritual Renaissance Ottawa: National Indian Arts and Crafts Corporation, 1990
Berlo, Janet C. and Ruth B. Phillips. Native North American Art Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998
Berlo, Janet Catherine. "Freda Diesing." St. James Guide to Native North American Artists. Detroit: St. James Press, 1998
Carter, Alixe. " 'Ksan Means Skeena in Hazleton, British Columbia." Ottawa Journal (2 Nov. 1972)
Carter, Alixe. "Indian Artifacts at NAC." Ottawa Journal (2 Nov. 1972)
Government of Canada. Canadian Aboriginal Art at the Senate Ottawa: Government of Canada, 2007
Grip, Maja & Hurtig, Annette eds. Artropolis: Exhibition of Contemporary British Columbia Art. Vancouver: Artropolis, 1987
Hall, Edwin S. Jr. and Blackman, Margaret et al. Northwest Coast Indian Graphics: An Introduction to Silk Screen Prints. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1981
Hassett, Dawn and Drew, F.W.M. Totem Poles of Prince Rupert. Prince Rupert, British Columbia: Museum of Northern British Columbia, 1982
Heller, Jules and Nancy. North American Women Artists of the Twentieth Century New York: Garland, 1995
Hill, Tom. Canadian Art '74 Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, 1974
Hill, Tom. "Vision and Virtuosity." Creation's Journey: Native American Identity and Belief. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Contemporary Indian Art of Canada. Hull, Quebec: 1986
Inuit Gallery of Vancouver. Hands of Creation: An Exhibition of Northwest Coast Native Art. Vancouver: Inuit Gallery of Vancouver, 1987
Inuit Gallery of Vancouver. Masks: An Exhibition of Northwest Coast Native Masks. Vancouver: 1989
Jensen, Doreen and Sargent, Polly. "Responses: The Blanket Maker's Stories (Freda Diesing)." Robes of Power: Totem Poles on Cloth. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 1986
Laurence, Robin. "Haida Glee: Transitions in Northwest Coast Art." Border Crossings 25.4 (Nov. 2006): 66-74
Lester, Patrick D. "Diesing, Freda: Haida." The Biographical Directory of Native American Painters. University of Oklahoma Press, 1995
Loeb, Barbara. Northwest Coast: Native American Art St. Louis: Craft Alliance Gallery, 1989
MacKay, Marilyn. "Changers: A Spiritual Renaissance." Arts Atlantic 11.2 (Winter 1992): 34-36
Macnair, Peter L. & Grenville, Bruce. Down from the Shimmering Sky: Masks of the Northwest Coast Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1998
Macnair, Peter L. and Hoover, Alan L. and Neary, Kevin. The Legacy: Continuing Traditions of Canadian Northwest Coast Indian Art Victoria, British Columbia: The British Columbia Provincial Museum, 1980
Matuz, Roger. St. James Guide to Native North American Artists. Detroit: St. James Press, 1998
Mayer, Carol E. & Shelton, Anthony. The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2010
National Museum of Man (Canada). 'Ksan, Breath of our Grandfathers: An Exhibition of 'Ksan Art. Michigan: National Museum of Man, 1972
Pemberton, Kim. " 'Ksan's Frieda Diesing." Prince Rupert News (6 Aug. 1982)
Reno, Dawn E. Contemporary Native American Artists Brooklyn, New York: Alliance Publishing, 1995
Richardson, Letia. "Topographies: Aspects of Recent B.C. Art: The Ethnic Contribution to B.C. Art." Artfocus 5.1 (Winter 1996-1997): 8-12
Slade, Mary Anne Barbara. Skilquewat: On the Trail of Property Woman: The Life Story of Freda Diesing. Vancouver: University of British Columbia, 2002
Stelzer, Ulli. Indian Artists at Work North Vancouver: J.J. Douglas, 1976
Stewart, Hilary. Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1979
Stewart, Hilary. Looking at Totem Poles Seattle: Douglas & McIntyre, 1993
Thom, Ian M. Challenging Traditions: Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2009
Vancouver Art Gallery. "Freda Diesing." Raven Travelling: Two Centuries of Haida Art. Vancouver: 2006
Wright, Robin Kathleen. Northern Haida Master Carvers. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2001
Wyatt, Gary. Mythical Beings: Spirit Art of the Northwest Coast. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1999
Wyatt, Gary. Spirit Faces: Contemporary Masks of the Northwest Coast. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994
Zepp, Norman. Two Worlds: Contemporary Canadian Indian Art From the Collection of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Regina, Saskatchewan: The Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, 1985

Writings by
Diesing, Freda. "A Moon Mask." National Indian Arts and Crafts Series. National Indian Arts and Crafts Corporation, 2002
Diesing, Freda. "Haida Button Blankets." Robes of Power: Totem Poles on Cloth. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 1986
Diesing, Freda & Corbett, Elnore et al. Orientation to Southeast Alaska. Ketchikan, Alaska: Ketchikan Indian Corporation, 1981

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