Robert Davidson, Eagle of the Dawn

Linda Perry is a senior policy analyst at the Ontario Ministry of
Colleges and Universities.

This elegant coffee-table book on the Haida artist Robert Davidson was
produced to accompany an exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Davidson’s output includes totems, masks, prints, jewelry, and
sculpture.

The text includes a biographical essay by Ian Thom of the Vancouver Art
Gallery; an assessment of Davidson’s place in Haida art by Aldona
Jonaitis of the American Museum of Natural History; and a Haida
perspective from Marianne Jones, a respected voice of Haida culture.
Comments from Davidson and his peers provide additional insights into
the significance of Davidson’s work and its place in the history and
philosophy of the Haida people. The text ranges from complex scholarly
treatments to more personal accounts of Davidson’s life and artistic
development. Recurring throughout is the theme of Haida art forms as a
cultural expression of traditional identity. Each contributing writer
brings a somewhat different perspective to the topic.

The book is handsomely presented, with more than 110 illustrations and
50 color plates. The photographs speak eloquently of the power and
impact of Davidson’s vision and the fusion of art and the spirit world
of his people.