Dale Scow is a Kwakiutl artist of Heiltsuk and Kwakiutl descent, based out of Port Hardy, BC. He comes from a large family of carvers. Scow learned how to carve from his brother Lawernce Scow who is still one of his biggest influences. He has also worked alongside master carver Stan Cliford Hunt and hereditary chief Dave Mungo Knox. 

 

Scow states in an interview, “It was more of a hobby; back then I was working full time at the mine and my brother asked me to help him paint so that's how it started. That was like 20 years ago and I worked with my brother and for my brother.”

 

Scow has continued to collaborate with Stan, Dave, and Lawrence throughout his artistic career working on a wide variety of projects from totem poles to masks. In Scow’s personal practice he primarily carves with red and yellow cedar to create vibrant, and complex plaques. His work frequently features the double finned killer whale which comes from his mothers side (Heiltsuk), and the eagle which comes from his fathers side (Kwakiutl). 

 

After years of working in our North Island forests and on the water, Scow derives inspiration from the natural world which is evident in his work. In an interview Scow shared that he does not sketch out his carvings beforehand; instead he sees the carving in his head and if it doesn’t look right he hides it away for a while before returning to it. His work exists in the liminal space between practice and ideation.