Freda Diesing

Haida

Freda Diesing was born on June 2, 1925 in Prince Rupert, BC and passed away on December 3, 2002. She is one of the most important Haida artists of all time.

Freda Diesing took painting classes at the Vancouver School of Art in 1955-6, beginning her artistic career. She saw the exhibit, “People of the Potlatch”, at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 1956 and began to take an interest in the artistic traditions of her Haida ancestors. She began carving at the age of 42, learning at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art at 'Ksan Village.

Diesing was known for challenging the conventions of Haida art. Namely, she was an accomplished carver and printmaker in a domain that was traditionally male dominated. In the 1970s, Diesing took an interest in silkscreen printing, and adapted traditional Haida styles to the medium. In the 1980s, her work was included in a special exhibit by the Royal British Columbia Museum called “Legacy — Tradition and Innovation in Northwest Coast Indian Art,” which brought the style renewed notoriety and international acclaim.

Freda Diesing eventually became an instructor at the ‘Ksan Indian Art School. Each year, she also taught a seminar in carving in Ketchikan, Alaska. Diesing was an important teacher and mentor; most of her students went on to form the core of a new generation of Indigenous artists working in Canada. She was known as a mentor to Don Yeomans and Dempsey Bob. After Freda Diesing passed away in 2002, Yeomans and Bob delivered her eulogy.

In addition to her career as an artist and teacher, Diesing was also a member of the Council of the Haida Nation of British Columbia as well as a singer with the group the Sweet Adelines.