Tribal Affiliation: Kwagiulth
Indian Band Name: Mamalilikulla’Qwe’Qwa’sot enox
Village Island, British Columbia, Canada

Services

Herman Bruce, JR has been carving wood for 23 years, mainly carving masks and wall plaques along with small totem poles and bowls, rattles and even transformation masks. Herman mentions that he carves frontlets for dance regalia and numerous different crests or totem figures. Mr. Bruce is happy to share his painting skills, such as designs that he has placed on T-shirts. The T- shirts having a salmon design, which is pretty common for the West Coast of the United States and Canada. Herman has also designed and painted numerous pieces for private clientele all around the world. Mr. Bruce has sent pieces to Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Europe as well as Canada and the United States. Mr. Bruce would like to mention; that he makes drums and drum frames too.

Moreover, Herman, JR and his father Herman, SR completed a 28/ft totem pole that was commissioned by a private home Owner and is currently standing in Pacific Beach, WA. Father and son/ master and apprentice spent 18 weeks carving the totem pole and painting it too. The log weighing in excess of 10,000 pounds. Mr. Bruce likes carving the larger pieces that are big and bold. The larger carvings of the totem poles and feast bowls are item usually enjoyed by elders and people in a social setting, such as a feast, potlatch, and naming ceremonies.

Mr. Bruce’s most current piece to date is an eight-foot totem pole of a bear eating a salmon. The log for this piece is about 6 hundred pounds to about 8 hundred pounds. Herman mentions that the base for the totem pole is about 28 inches in diameter. The top of the totem pole is only about 26 inches in diameter.

In conclusion Herman is happy to offer twenty-three years of wood carving experience and also painting skills too. Herman spends most of his time carving red cedar and yellow cedar for pieces, such as small totem poles and small wall plaques. Mr. Herman Bruce, JR is working all the time on honing his skills along with the rich culture of the Kwagiulth people.

Education:

Graduated Frank Hurt JR Secondary High School 1985
Attended Yakima Valley Community College 1993 to 1994
4 years at Eastern Washington University 1995 to 1999 working on a BA in Urban and Regional Planning

Special Acknowledgements:

1991- Art in the Park (Wood Carving Instructor) Olympia, WA
1994 - Puppet Therapy ( Yellow Cloud Youth Crisis Center, Nespelem, WA, Dr. Jan Bacon, Phd )
2000 - May “Cowboys & Indians Magazine” 1 of 40 working artists in the Northwest of Washington & Canada
2000 - July “Lilac Parade Participant” (raven dancer)
2001 - Monarch Sculpture Park Participant, Tenino, WA
2002 - Makah Days (salmon T-shirt Design)
2002 - Central Washington Musuem (paid demonstrator)
2003 - Post Falls (Participant)
2004 - Pacific Beach Kite days demonstrator
2004 - Monarch Sculpture Park Participant, Tenino, WA
2005 - Independent Wood Carving Instructor Squaxin Island
2005 - Evergreen State College Carvers Convention particapant
2006 - Squaxin Island Wood Carving Instructor
2006 - Olympic Puget Sound College Shelton,WA (June 16th,23rd) Wood Carving Instructor