Jim Hart, Haida artist. His presence is as powerful as what he creates.
One day my girlfriend asked me if I would like to come with her to the unveiling ceremony of an outdoor sculpture by Jim Hart. I didn't know who Jim Hart was at the time. She told me that he was a well recognized Haida artist. The sculpture he was going to unveil was commissioned by Michael Audain, Polygon Homes, who is probably one of the biggest philanthropists of arts in Canada.
When I first saw Jim Hart, I was so impressed with his powerful presence. He was tall and well built with a long ponytail. I had never seen an Aboriginal man as striking as he was except images of Aboriginal men photographed by Edward Curtis in the book I own. He was wearing a traditional Haida button blanket. He conducted the ceremony and gave a speech in front of more than 100 people. While I was watching the ceremony, I kept saying to myself that I must photograph this man.
