Panel Depicting Wolf by Chief Peter Smith, Kwakwaka'wakw Nation

Panel depicting Wolfby Chief Peter Smith, Kwakwaka'wakw Nationyellow cedar, pigment18” diameter x 1” deep What sets Peter Smith's panels apart from other artists is the depth of carving. Each panel is an inch and a half deep, allowing him to carve deep cuts into the design, which gives it more dimension. By nature, the Kwakwaka'wakw style of carving tends to be bolder and more masculine than the Northern styles. Peter has chosen to follow the old ways of carving, and sticks to traditional techniques, colors, and imagery. Peter Smith is a Kwakwaka’wakw carver that has been working in the wood mediums since 1995 when he began his carving career studying under the watchful eyes of carver Winadzi James. Although he began carving in 1995, his exposure to the art form began in early childhood when he watched artists such as Walter (Long-John) Smith, Sam Johnson, Jack James, and Allan James while spending time in his home community of Gilford Island. Not only did he watch great carvers and a