Guud san glans Robert Davidson’s artworks are influenced by traditional Haida stories, and his own lived experiences. Here he describes his inspiration for this print:
“At the four-day feast Tribute to the Living Haida, the people of Hydaburg, Alaska, did a shark dance, with a line of dancers with shark masks that seemed to be floating, and they had a song to go with it. I was taken by it and I have since explored the subject in prints, paintings, and masks, as well as in performances and ceremonies.”

Notes from the Collection is an ongoing project that activates and shares the Gallery’s permanent collection by pairing a single artwork with each exhibition as a point of reflection. Dogfish Mother was chosen to accompany the exhibition Stories that animate us, which features works by Davidson among many others.

Full Image Credit: Guud San Glans Robert Davidson
Dogfish Mother
Serigraph
Edition: 188 of 199
1980
Collection of Nanaimo Art Gallery
Gift of Frances and Charlie Christopherson

Photography: Sean Fenzl