Indigenous Influences
When you see Geoff Ross’s carvings, your first thought is “First Nations art.”
But a closer look reveals it’s much more the work of someone who’s an admirer of native art and culture rather than a master of it.
Which is exactly how Ross bills himself.
Growing up with an adopted younger brother of Salish heritage, Ross has always loved First Nations art and culture. His work is a modern take on it. His handcarved wood panels are etched with abstract motifs, not drawing on any particular animal.
The carvings are left bare, with no more than staining on some parts of the reclaimed wood for greater contrast or an added inlay of recycled copper or aluminum.
“Some of my pieces look as if they were part of something bigger long ago, but the other pieces were lost and all that’s left is a single panel. It’s a bit of mystery that’s left,” he says.
Ross, a North Shore graphic artist by day, is a self-taught carver. He started six years ago when he moved into a new apartment and “needed something for the walls.”
Using his grandfather’s carving tools and some old cedar planks, he made his first few pieces of native inspired art. Then, for fun, he put a piece on craigslist. It sold in three days. Since then, Ross has been steadily selling art under the name Indigenous Influences, mostly through word of mouth.
As a Caucasian, Ross once worried about offending First Nations artists. But he says it’s no longer a concern. He has had several First Nations buyers over the years, beginning with one during his first year of carving.
The ultimate compliment came when the Squamish Ayas Men Men Child and Family Services commissioned him to do 10 pieces for their office. “It was an awesome honour, just great,” he says.
This year will be Ross’s first time at Circle Craft, where he will be selling wood carvings ranging in size from nine inches to five feet long and from $50 to $1,200.