Dempsey Bob: In His Own Voice

by Dempsey Bob, Sarah Milroy (Editor)

Dempsey In His Own Voice is based on the first full-scale solo museum exhibition of this extraordinary Tahltan-Tlingit artist, one of the finest living carvers of the Northwest Coast. Drawing from extensive interviews with the artist by the exhibition’s co-curator, Sarah Milroy, the book presents the story of his life told his own way, including extensive and intimate reflections on the creation of particular works. Gorgeous photographs of the artworks, which are drawn from key private collections in Canada and public collections in Canada, the US and beyond, are supplemented with material from his sketchbooks to create a vivid portrait of the creative process.

208 pages, Hardcover

Published September 6, 2022

Reviews

[John Everard Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I attended a showing of Dempsey Bob's carvings on the theme of "wolf" in Calgary and was overwhelmed with the work he is creating. I got the book that accompanied the museum exposition and just finished it. It is his life story "in his own voice" accompanied by many photographs of his work. It is not an long autobiography; it is a remembrance of his indigenous roots, culture and how he navigated all the challenges and became a world renown artist. To follow his journey from childhood to being world renown is like being invited into his living room for a chat...an intimate experience and appreciation of how difficult it was to learn the craft and become a leader in the movement to celebrate indigenous values and culture and stay humble and true to one's calling/vision. It is a book I was able to read in a day, but I will cherish it forever.

The book is focused on his professional development. I would like to know more about his personal life and his family who show up from time to time in his remembrance.