Tlehpik Hjalmer Wenstob
Tlehpik Hjalmer Wenstob was raised on Tzartus island in Barkley Sound, in Huu-ay-aht First Nation’s territory, off the west coast of Vancouver Island. It was there that his understanding and desire of pursing both his traditional Nuu-chah-nulth and contemporary art practices began. Hjalmer Wenstob is an interdisciplinary artist who specializes in sculpture and carving. He is Nuu-chah-nulth from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations on his father's side, and Norwegian and English on his mother’s side. Hjalmer speaks of three dialects of his work; contemporary, traditional, and community-based. Through his contemporary dialect, Hjalmer completed both an undergraduate and master's degree at the University of Victoria, exploring the relationships between cultures and art, and the balance between traditional and contemporary. His work is at times highly political, and uses humour and irony to pose difficult questions of respect, reconciliation and environmental issues. Recently, Hjalmer and his family opened Cedar House Gallery in Ucluelet, B.C. where Hjalmer is exploring ways of weaving his contemporary/political work with more traditional materials and styles. In 2018, Hjalmer was awarded the national William and Meredith Saunderson Prize for Emerging Artists in Canada, from the Hnatyshyn Foundation in Ottawa, Ontario.
Hjalmer Wenstob, 2017
Community mentorship project on BC Legislature Lawns (Victoria, BC) with four youth artists: Sarah Jim (Coast Salish), A.J. Boersen (Nuu-chah-nulth), Juliana Speier (Kwak’waka’wakw), Jazzlyn Markowsky (Māori)
Red Cedar, Paint, Screws, Tent
Each house: 25’x14’x30’
Media Releases:
https://www.westerlynews.ca/news/ucluelet-artist-recreates-former-esquimalt-first-nation-village-site-at-victorias-legislature-building/
https://hashilthsa.com/news/2017-09-26/young-artist-discovers-cultural-roots-through-longhouse-design
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfkl0fk1DEs
The Longhouses continue to be used for community events, contact hjalmerwenstob@yahoo.com for more details:
https://pacificpeoplespartnership.org/the-longhouse-dialogues-raising-a-west-coast-village-in-honour-of-women/
Hjalmer Wenstob
Red Cedar, Cedar Bark, Feathers, Operculum Shells
16”Lx12”Hx6”W, with over 30” of cedar bark
Hjalmer Wenstob
Community Carving Project for Gathering Our Voices Youth Conference 2019, in Port Alberni, BC.
Traditional Log Drum
Hjalmer Wenstob
Feast Bowl Train, community carving project at the University of Victoria
Red Cedar, Acrylic Paint, Food safe paint, Castors
hashilthsa.com/news/2013-04-02/lightening-snake-train-unveiled-everyone-welcome-feast
Hjalmer Wenstob design
collaboration with Peetz Outdoors, fully usable fishing reel
Available for sale: Peetz Reel Tamuuk
Hjalmer Wenstob
Red cedar, Cedar bark, Glass Box, Glass Vitrine, Plinth
2.5’x2.5’x4.5’
Hjalmer Wenstob
Creating cultural objects in urban spaces, showing the difficulty and loss of culture in the city
Hydro Pole, wood, insulators, wire, metal, cable
8’x 4’x12’
Hjalmer Wenstob
Set of four interactive dance masks.
Each mask can be put on by the viewer, with a video inside of the mask being danced, allowing the viewer a glimpse into the importance of masks in Nuu-chah-nulth culture.
Hjalmer Wenstob
Tamuuk (Kingfisher Mask), Gift for Tim Masso
Red Cedar, Cedar Bark, Acrylic Paint, Hide
Notable Exhibitions:
2020, Masked Heroes (Virtual Exhibition), First American Art Magazine
2020, Humour as Medicine, Campbell River Art Gallery, Campbell River, BC (Postponed)
2019-2020, The Time is Now and Yesterday and Tomorrow, Indigenous Art Center Gallery, Gatineau, QC
2019, For Ground; Background, Solo Show, Victoria Arts Council, Victoria, BC
2019, Von Wolfen Und Menschen, Markk Museum, Hamburg, Germany
2017-2018, Point of Contact, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, B.C
2017, Pending Approval, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C
2017, Origin Stories, Legacy Art Gallery, Victoria, B.C
2016, Emerging Through the Fog, Legacy Art Gallery, Victoria, B.C
2015, Spaceraisers, Open Space Gallery, Victoria, B.C
2014, Changing the Legacy, Inkwis Arts and Culture Gallery, Tofino, B.C
2012, YVR Art Foundation Final Show, Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver, B.C.
Notable Awards/GRants:
2018, William and Meredith Saunderson Prize for Emerging Artists, The Hnatyshyn Foundation, Ottawa, Ontario
2017, B.C Museum Association and Heritage BC Grant, Longhouse Project in collaboration with MediaNet and Pacific Peoples Partnership
2014, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Art award
2014, CBC Indigenous Eye Art Award
2012, Nuu-chah-nulth Artist of the Year
2012, Mungo Martin Memorial Art award
2012, Roy Henry Vickers Art Award
2011, Vancouver International Airport Art Foundation, Bill Reid Award
2011, Judy Bourne Art Award
By Hjalmer Wenstob, 2020
20” round
Hide, Wood Round, Acrylic Paint