Dan Friday

Columbus Dispatch article on Hawk Galleries' 'Brilliant' exhibition

Bio

Dan Friday is a member of the Lummi Nation and a Seattle-based glass artist. He has spent the last twenty-five years creating his own work and also working with artists such as Dale Chihuly, Paul Marioni, and Preston Singletary. 

The themes and images of Friday's work are often drawn from his Coastal Salish heritage and are solidified in the world of glass art.

Dan has taught at the University of Washington, Evergreen State College, Pilchuck Glass School, and Haystack Craft Center.

He has had residencies at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA, the Burke Museum in Seattle, WA, the Corning Museum of Glass, in Corning, NY, and the Dream Community in Tai Pei, Taiwan.

Friday has been awarded the Bill Holm Grant, the People's choice award from the Bellevue Art Museum, an Artist Trust Fellowship, and the Discovery Fellowship through (SWAIA) the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts. He was a contestant on Netflix's Competition Show, Blown Away Season 3, 2022.

Work Back Stories:

Owl Totem

The Owl has many different interpretations. Associated with knowledge, intuition, and unseen truths, the Owl is also said to be aware of our fate. What does that mean to me? I am not exactly sure, what I can say is that we have an undeniable connection. I do not worship the owl. I worship the creator of the owl. I have never seen the creator, but with great admiration, I have seen the Owl.

Grandpa Joe's (Joseph Hillaire, aka Kwul Kwul Tw) totem poles were different, and very contemporary at their time, he had his own style. In a time when many Native peoples were isolated and adapting to their rapidly changing surroundings, grandpa, with his stories and Totem poles, shared the ways of the Lummi, and Coast Salish people. His poles were notably in the 1962 World's Fair and in Kobe, Japan. Some of his poles still stand today.

The stories and lines in my Totems are subtle. I often look to personal experience and expression for the themes. I am grateful for my grandfather and his modern approach, it empowers me as I find my way. Our work is different, but a common message is that "we are still here".  I think anyone who can find their own voice in whatever they do is very lucky.

Aunt Fran's Basket

When I was younger and went to aunt Fran's house, it was so comfortable. I think because of all the projects spread about the house, from her loom for mountain goat wool blankets to incredible Cedar baskets. Her hands were always moving, from this thing to that, she was a true artist and cultural purveyor. She said, "It is our way, we make things". She gave me many little things, but her presence was the true gift. She was largely influential in my finding my path in glass.

Bears

My family and relations are the "Children of the Setting Sun". We are the decedents of Xa-Tel-Ek (Haytelock pron.) or also known as Frank Hillaire. Frank signed the Point Elliot treaty of 1855, effectively removing our people from the San Juan Island chain in Washington state, and establishing the Lummi Nation Reservation near Bellingham, Washington.                                                  "Keep my fires burning." - Frank Hillaire

Salmon

For Millenia Coast Salish People have survived as fishermen. Migrating Salmon was the bulk of this sustenance, and their presence was a focal point of the way these people built their lives and rituals. In current times, the threat of commercial over fishing and habitat decline has both of these communities in jeopardy. With works like this I hope to raise awareness as to the state of their fragile existence, I believe our fates are intertwined.