Kwakiutl Art, Ceremonies At Seattle Museum

A special exhibit now at the Seattle Art Museum showcases the art and potlatch ceremonies of the Kwakiutl people of the B.C. coast.

"Chiefly Feasts: the Enduring Kwakiutl Potlatch" features about 150 ceremonial works of art, including masks, feast dishes and carvings.

Pieces by noted Kwakiutl artist Willie Seaweed are included in this traveling exhibit, which was drawn from the collections of the American Museum of Natural History. Many of the pieces were collected prior to 1905, although more modern works are included.

Through the gift-giving, dance and ceremonies of the traditional Kwakiutl potlatch, wealth was shared, prestige secured and spirituality celebrated. The potlatch was the centerpiece of the life and art of the Kwakiutl (also known as the Kwakwaka'wakw).

The Seattle exhibit, which continues through Aug. 14, shows how the potlatch has survived despite earlier government suppression. Photographs and the gifts of modern Kwakiutl potlatches are on display: gifts include home-made crocheted blankets, sets of dishes and clothing.

Along with the exhibit, the museum will host Kwakiutl dance performances, artists' demonstrations and storytelling. Among them:

-- Carving, today - Artist Calvin Hunt will carve a 5-foot long feast dish. From 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

-- Storytelling, June 19, June 26 - Native storytellers will tell their creation myths and other tales. From 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

-- Dance, July 9 - The Copper Maker Dance Group from B.C. will perform Kwakiutl dances from 1 to 2:30 p.m. (tickets required).

-- For more information, contact the Seattle Art Museum at 654-3100.

For those interested in seeing more Northwest Coast art, the museum's permanent collection offers a broad range, including masks and other works by Willie Seaweed. The most comprehensive book on Seaweed is "Smoky Top: The Art and Times of Willie Seaweed," by Bill Holm (UW Press, 1983, $45).