Northwest Community College
created the Freda Diesing School of Northwest
Coast Art to honour, recognize and continue
the legacy of Haida artist Freda Diesing. She
was a master carver, painter, tireless educator
and champion of First Nations art and culture.
The Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast
Art brings nations together in the pursuit
of higher education, and sets new standards
for aspiring artists. It is the only School
of its kind in Canada, focusing on traditional
First Nations Pacific Northwest Coast art with
the view of developing skills into fine art.
The School offers the First Nations Fine Arts
program, instructed and mentored by world-renowned
artists Dempsey Bob (Tahltan/Tlingit), Stan
Bevan (Tahltan/Tlingit/Tsimshian), and Ken
McNeil (Tahltan/Tlingit/Nisga'a).
The instructors play an important role in
passing on Freda Diesing's legacy to their
students. They instill in their students what
is required to become a First Nations artist
and an understanding of each one's responsibility
to continue to share this valuable knowledge
with others. |
