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In his carving, Robert uses traditional woods: cedar,
alder, and yew—and traditional tools: elbow adze and crooked knives.
In his designs, Robert uses traditional elements of the Northwest
style, but within a conceptual framework created by his unique
experience. “I do not consider myself a traditional artist. My art
is Tsimsian because I am Tsimsian.”
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In
February 1994, Robert began work on a series of drawings and painting
that culminated a year later in Two
Cultures Meet, a painting reproduced as a serigraph edition—Robert’s
tribute to his time spent with the Plains people in South Dakota. In
the design, a Buffalo dancer, as symbol of the Plains traditions, and
a Raven dancer, as symbol of the Northwest traditions, join hands to
create a star which fills the whole sky. Other designs from that
original series of paintings have been reproduced on cards and in
sandblasted glass.
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His
1996 painting Honoring the Salmon People
was reproduced in a serigraph edition and in 1997, a similar salmon
design, Going Home, was chosen as the theme design for the 1997
Salmon Homecoming Celebration on the Seattle waterfront. That work led
to a commission from the U.S. Synchronized Swim Team for a theme
design for their 1998 National Championships, held in the Northwest.
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1998 also saw
the publication of Raven Spirit,
another serigraph edition based on a painted drum design.
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Robert also
creates prints of traditional Tsimsian iconic animals such as
Eagle.
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In May 1995
Robert carved his first mask, a miniature buffalo mask. Since then he
has created a steady stream of carvings: panels, frontlets, poles, and
masks such as this portrait mask.
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Portrait
mask