September 6th-11th, 2018
Tla-o-qui-aht Territory, Tofino BC, Canada
The Carving on the Edge Festival is an annual gathering that celebrates traditional and contemporary carving arts. This year’s theme, Totems & Tributaries, will explore carving as a visual language. Totem Poles stand tall, telling stories of the land and its peoples. Tributaries connect our coastal communities to those upstream, uniting us along ancient salmon migration routes. The festival offers something for everyone – from lovers of arts & culture to carvers of all skill levels.
September 6th-9th, 2018
Carving workshops, demonstrations, cultural performances, artist talks, & canoe tours.
September 7th-11th, 2018
Edge Art Show, Featured Exhibits, & the Open Carving Area
September 6th, 2018
Artist Forum
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September 2018
Artist Forum and Lunch – Thursday, September 6th, 2018
Artist Forum and Lunch Participating artists are invited to the Artist Forum and Lunch before the festival is opened to the public. The Tips and Tricks Session will introduce our guest artists to the group with an opportunity to learn more about their individual approaches to carving. The Festival Overview Session provides detailed information on the ways artists can make the most out of this year’s festival. 10am - Artist Registration - coffee served 11am - Artist Welcome with Hjalmer…
Find out more »Opening Night – Thursday, September 6th, 2018
Festival Opening Night - Unveiled: The ƛaʔuukʷiatḥ Mural Project & The Edge Art Show Opening Night will begin with a Tla-o-qui-aht Welcome led by local elder and beach-keeper Barney Williams with songs from the Kliith Pitaap Taa Qumths Men’s Group. The ƛaʔuukʷiatḥ Mural Project will be unveiled, exploring our ancestral relationships with earth, wind, fire and water. This community engaged arts project is led by local cultural educator Gisele Martin and visiting muralist Fanny Aishaa. A public/outdoor art space was set…
Find out more »Open Carving Area – September 7th-11th, 2018
Open Carving Area Hours Friday, Sept 7th // 10am to 2pm (closes early for the Totem Pole Raising Ceremony) Saturday, Sept 8th to Tuesday, Sept 11th // 10am to 5pm The Open Carving Area is a space within the festival venue for carvers to set up and work on projects throughout the week. All carvers are welcome to come enjoy this shared workspace, work on existing projects or begin new ones, and carve alongside each other. This is a great opportunity…
Find out more »Edge Art Show – September 7th-11th, 2018
Come and experience the power of coastal carving at the Edge Art Show, an annual exhibit that launches with the Carving on the Edge Festival. Opening Night: Thursday, September 6th @ 7pm Edge Art Show hours Friday, September 7th - 10am-2pm September 8th & 9th - 10am-7pm September 10th & 11th - 10am-5pm If you are interested in submitting carved pieces to the Edge Art Show, fill out your artist entry form here. Our coastal rainforests have been home to a rich history of…
Find out more »Grant Writing Workshop with First Peoples’ Cultural Council – Friday, September 7th, 2018
Grant Writing Workshop First Peoples’ Cultural Council will be offering a free Information Session to learn more about applying for arts grants. There will also be opportunities to speak to staff one on one. Angela Marston is a Coast Salish artist from STZ’UMINUS on Vancouver Island BC. Angela grew up immersed in art as her mother Jane Marston, father David Marston and Master Carver Simon Charlie are mentors she has spent many years learning from. Finding inspiration through honouring her ancestors…
Find out more »Nuu-chah-nulth Language Blocks Workshop – Friday, September 7th, 2018
Nuu-chah-nulth Language Blocks Workshop Participants will create a set of language blocks using the phonetics for the Nuu-chah-nulth language. Local Nuu-chah-nulth language apprentice and revitalization enthusiast Timmy Masso will demonstrate how the blocks can be used for solo study or group exercises. Each participant will leave with their own set of up to 16 blocks that they can use later to create and practice Nuu-chah-nulth words. Workshop is designed for age 6 and up. Participants under the age of 12…
Find out more »“Fish and Berries” Nuu-chah-nulth Language Nest Demo – Friday, September 7th, 2018
“Fish and Berries” Nuu-chah-nulth Language Nest Demo Take half an hour to feel what it is like to be immersed in the language of this land, the language of our host community of Tla-o-qui-aht. Join us for a demonstration of a Language Nest, an immersion space where fluent speakers create the environment for children and learners to “absorb” the sounds of our language as opposed to “learning” the sounds. Many involved in language revitalization believe that the Language Nest provides…
Find out more »Tla-o-qui-aht Totem Pole Raising Ceremony – Friday, September 7th, 2018
Tla-o-qui-aht Totem Pole Raising Ceremony A Čiinuł (Totem Pole) will be raised honouring the ƛaʔuukʷiatḥ Ha’wiih (Tla-o-qui-aht Hereditary Chiefs) and their spiritual and physical stewardship of the hahoułee. The Čiinuł acknowledges the powerful and sacred care expressed through this relationship not just from the past, but in the present and into the future. It has been a dream of Tla-o-qui-aht master carver, Joe David to see this totem carved and raised in the township of Tofino so that everyone before…
Find out more »Platter Making: Beginner Carving Workshop – Saturday, September 8th, 2018
Platter Making: Beginner Carving Workshop Students will be guided through the process of carving an ornamental (and functional!) shallow platter with the use of hand tools. There will be instruction on wood grain, alignment and essential personal and tool safety. You will be provided with a blank of red cedar wood and basic carving tools for the workshop. From simple to fancy depends on how far you want to take it in this fun and informative introduction to wood carving.…
Find out more »Adze Making: Tool Workshop – Saturday, September 8th, 2018
Adze Making: Tool Workshop The elbow adze is a central tool of Northwest Coast Carving. With proper geometry, this tool allows you to quickly remove material, shape out areas, and cut finely to the line. Join tool maker Charles Prince from Kestrel Tool, for a full-day workshop in elbow adze construction. Participants will shape handles from Alder crooks and affix them to adze blades provided by Kestrel Tool. Participants will leave the workshop with a finished elbow adze ready to…
Find out more »Transferring Design Workshop – Saturday, September 8th, 2018
Transferring Design Workshop Using the same method Kelli uses to transfer designs to her wood carvings, this workshop will teach participants how to trace and transfer designs onto canvas, and paint the transferred design. A small salmon egg design will be provided by the artist. All workshop materials will be provided. Children under 12 need to be accompanied by an adult. INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY Kelli Clifton: was born and raised in Prince Rupert, BC. Her mother is of European ancestry…
Find out more »Transforming Chaputz: T’ashii Dug-out Canoe Tour – Saturday, September 8th, 2018
Transforming Chaputz: T’ashii Dug-out Canoe Tour Join the cultural outdoor guides at T'ashii Paddle School for a journey on the inside waters of Clayoquot Sound and a guided walk through the ancient forest on Wanachis-Hilth-huu-is (aka Meares Island). You will learn about how the resurgence of carving canoes has transformed our local communities by instilling respect for Natural Law in our young people. The čapac (or traditional dug-out canoe) is a vehicle for coming together in a good way, for…
Find out more »Platter Making: Beginner Carving Workshop – Saturday, September 8th, 2018
Platter Making: Beginner Carving Workshop Students will be guided through the process of carving an ornamental (and functional!) shallow platter with the use of hand tools. There will be instruction on wood grain, alignment and essential personal and tool safety. You will be provided with a blank of red cedar wood and basic carving tools for the workshop. From simple to fancy depends on how far you want to take it in this fun and informative introduction to wood carving.…
Find out more »Transferring Design Workshop – Saturday, September 8th, 2018
Transferring Design Workshop Using the same method Kelli uses to transfer designs to her wood carvings, this workshop will teach participants how to trace and transfer designs onto canvas, and paint the transferred design. A small salmon egg design will be provided by the artist. All workshop materials will be provided. Children under 12 need to be accompanied by an adult. INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY Kelli Clifton: was born and raised in Prince Rupert, BC. Her mother is of European ancestry…
Find out more »Totems and Tributaries – Evening Presentation with Featured Artists & Guests – Saturday, September 8th, 2018
Totems and Tributaries - Evening Presentation with Featured Artists & Guests With our festival theme this year, Totems & Tributaries, we explore how individuals and communities can express identity, values, and political presence on the landscape through the visual language of the traditional and contemporary carving arts. Gitwilgyoots Totem Pole Raising, Lelu Island - Film Screening (3:23 min) - After 2 years fighting to protect the Skeena Estuary and wild salmon from an LNG terminal sited on Lelu Island, the Gitwilgyoots…
Find out more »Crooked Knife Making: Tool Workshop – Sunday, September 9th, 2018
Crooked Knife Making: Tool Workshop Students will be guided through the process of making their own crooked (or hook) carving knife. You will be provided with a flat ground 01 tool steel blank and a new file for shaping the blank. A gas torch is used to heat the steel to bend into a crook and to harden the blade. Your finished knife will be fastened to a handle with rivets. This is an all day workshop, you will need…
Find out more »Printmaking for Families – Sunday, September 9th, 2018
Printmaking for Families Drop-in printmaking for youth and families. This workshop is designed for beginners of all ages. Participants will have the opportunity to design and carve a printing block which they will use to create a small run of prints using the artist's custom made 24" intaglio press. This class is drop in all day, no pre-registration required. Cost: 4 x 6 foam block - $5 4 x 6 lino block - $20 INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY Dan Law: is a…
Find out more »Tool Fair – Sunday, September 9th, 2018
Tool Fair Join us for an interactive, hands-on tool fair with accomplished tool makers from the Pacific Northwest. The first hour will feature short presentations from tool makers about tool design and construction, followed by an open session to try tools and learn from the experts. Tools will be available for purchase. Participating tool-makers include: Charlie Prince of Kestrel Tool, Steve Brown, George Rammel, and Mike Edwards. More TBA Photo credit: Douglas Ludwig Photography
Find out more »Tool Sharpening: Demonstration & Tutorials – Sunday, September 9th, 2018
Tool Sharpening: Demonstration & Tutorials Join us for a live Tool Sharpening Demonstration with local Norwegian carver Christen Dokk Smith. Christen will be demonstrating an array of sharpening techniques for wood carvers aimed to support you in keeping your tools functional, well-maintained, and carving ready. Donations for the demo welcomed. Following the demo, there are three 45min tutorial spaces available. Tutorials offer 1 on 1 sharpening sessions with your own tools, available by website registration. Demo: 12pm-1pm (by donation) Session…
Find out more »Film Screening – Maker of Monsters: The Extraordinary Life of Beau Dick – Sunday, September 9th, 2018
Film Screening of “Maker of Monsters: The Extraordinary Life of Beau Dick.” There will be an opportunity to stick around after the film for a Q &A session hosted by Beau Dick’s daughter Linnea Dick. Maker of Monsters gives an intimate look into the life of one of Canada’s greatest artists. Beau Dick worked within an ancient tradition and rose to the ranks of international success within the white cube world of contemporary art while never forgetting his roots.…
Find out more »Festival Photos
We love to take pictures during the festival. Enjoy a taste of our previous events by having a look at photo galleries from past events.
Festival Location
Shore Pier Event Space in Beautiful Tla-o-qui-aht Territory, Tofino BC, Canada
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