April White
Haida Nation
April White was born on Haida Gwaii, of the Yahgu’jaanaas Raven Clan. Through her father, she is a direct descendant of the renowned Stastas Eagle Chief and Haida Artist, Charles Edenshaw. April has dozens of relatives living in these islands, all practicing indigenous art–painting, sculpting, totem poles, carving masks using cedar bark and spruce root in weaving, jewelry making, steaming bentwood boxes and creating art out of Argillite – these include her brother Darrel White, and her cousins Christian White, Derek White, Jim Hart and Gwaai Edenshaw. She is also a relative of the late Bill Reid.
April White received her Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the University of British Columbia. She has worked as a geologist in remote areas of the Canadian West, an experience which has been of assistance in developing the visual faculty essential to creating her works of art. It wasn’t until the mid-eighties that April decided to completely devote herself to her painting. Entirely self-taught, April’s natural inclination stems from her Haida heritage, where being an artist is an honoured profession.
Works by this Artist (Present + Past + Public)
Present Works
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Iinang Xaadee – K’a.ad (Dogfish) II [Framed]
April White
$520.00 CADSerigraph, Edition of 55
2016
Framed
“For my ancestors, the primary purpose of art is to unveil a parallel reality that is visible only in our minds—to share a glimpse of Supernatural Beings, with the world of Human Beings. Educated in science and with a spirit drawn to art, I see Earth as one great Being—with rock as a skeleton and running water as veins and arteries, great oceans as hearts—sustaining ecosystems. All as an interconnected biome—a web of life living, at least on the surface, symbiotically… as prey, and as predator.
Iinang Xaadee—Herring People play a vital role in the ecosystem. They nurture, feed, give of themselves to keep beings alive in all realms— undersea, earth, and sky. When balance prevails, Herring People gather to dance in their great longhouse in such great numbers and with such vigour that the atmosphere overhead reverberates with their excitement. Now, Human Beings see Herring solely as a resource, blinded, not seeing their true value, only seeing monetary gain at the expense of the whole.” – April White
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Iinang Xaadee – Guud (Eagle) II [Framed]
April White
$520.00 CADSerigraph, Edition of 55
2016
Framed
“For my ancestors, the primary purpose of art is to unveil a parallel reality that is visible only in our minds—to share a glimpse of Supernatural Beings, with the world of Human Beings. Educated in science and with a spirit drawn to art, I see Earth as one great Being—with rock as a skeleton and running water as veins and arteries, great oceans as hearts—sustaining ecosystems. All as an interconnected biome—a web of life living, at least on the surface, symbiotically… as prey, and as predator.
Iinang Xaadee—Herring People play a vital role in the ecosystem. They nurture, feed, give of themselves to keep beings alive in all realms— undersea, earth, and sky. When balance prevails, Herring People gather to dance in their great longhouse in such great numbers and with such vigour that the atmosphere overhead reverberates with their excitement. Now, Human Beings see Herring solely as a resource, blinded, not seeing their true value, only seeing monetary gain at the expense of the whole.” – April White
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Iinang Xaadee – Sguul (Dolphin) II [Framed]
April White
$520.00 CADSerigraph, Edition of 55
2016
Framed
“For my ancestors, the primary purpose of art is to unveil a parallel reality that is visible only in our minds—to share a glimpse of Supernatural Beings, with the world of Human Beings. Educated in science and with a spirit drawn to art, I see Earth as one great Being—with rock as a skeleton and running water as veins and arteries, great oceans as hearts—sustaining ecosystems. All as an interconnected biome—a web of life living, at least on the surface, symbiotically… as prey, and as predator.
Iinang Xaadee—Herring People play a vital role in the ecosystem. They nurture, feed, give of themselves to keep beings alive in all realms— undersea, earth, and sky. When balance prevails, Herring People gather to dance in their great longhouse in such great numbers and with such vigour that the atmosphere overhead reverberates with their excitement. Now, Human Beings see Herring solely as a resource, blinded, not seeing their true value, only seeing monetary gain at the expense of the whole.” – April White
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Iinang Xaadee – Iihlangaa (Young Man) II [Framed]
April White
$520.00 CADSerigraph, Edition of 55
2016
Framed
“For my ancestors, the primary purpose of art is to unveil a parallel reality that is visible only in our minds—to share a glimpse of Supernatural Beings, with the world of Human Beings. Educated in science and with a spirit drawn to art, I see Earth as one great Being—with rock as a skeleton and running water as veins and arteries, great oceans as hearts—sustaining ecosystems. All as an interconnected biome—a web of life living, at least on the surface, symbiotically… as prey, and as predator.
Iinang Xaadee—Herring People play a vital role in the ecosystem. They nurture, feed, give of themselves to keep beings alive in all realms— undersea, earth, and sky. When balance prevails, Herring People gather to dance in their great longhouse in such great numbers and with such vigour that the atmosphere overhead reverberates with their excitement. Now, Human Beings see Herring solely as a resource, blinded, not seeing their true value, only seeing monetary gain at the expense of the whole.” – April White
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Iinang Xaadee – Jaadaa (Young Woman) II [Framed]
April White
$520.00 CADSerigraph, Edition of 55
2016
Framed
“For my ancestors, the primary purpose of art is to unveil a parallel reality that is visible only in our minds—to share a glimpse of Supernatural Beings, with the world of Human Beings. Educated in science and with a spirit drawn to art, I see Earth as one great Being—with rock as a skeleton and running water as veins and arteries, great oceans as hearts—sustaining ecosystems. All as an interconnected biome—a web of life living, at least on the surface, symbiotically… as prey, and as predator.
Iinang Xaadee—Herring People play a vital role in the ecosystem. They nurture, feed, give of themselves to keep beings alive in all realms— undersea, earth, and sky. When balance prevails, Herring People gather to dance in their great longhouse in such great numbers and with such vigour that the atmosphere overhead reverberates with their excitement. Now, Human Beings see Herring solely as a resource, blinded, not seeing their true value, only seeing monetary gain at the expense of the whole.” – April White
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Chiin Sgaanuwaay (Supernatural Salmon) I [Framed]
April White
$765.00 CADSerigraph, Edition of 145
2009
Framed
“The Beings in the story ‘Bear Mother Myth’ are the backbone of this depiction. The main characters, the Prince of the Bear People, a Haida Princess, and their offspring, twin Bear Cubs, are encompassed by the silhouette of Taawaan (Chinook Salmon) to recognize the Northwest Coast Peoples’ oneness with all things and Salmon in particular. The Haida and Bear are unified by the sharing of their primary foods: berries and salmon. When a Being presents itself as food, it does so willingly and gives itself to sustain another life. This was given much reverence and it is believed that each entity possessed its own spirit. When the spirits gave generously, it meant that life was enriched far beyond the immediacy of a full belly granting the freedom to explore spiritual enlightenment.” – April White
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Salmon Dance IV
April White
$300.00 CADSerigraph, Edition of 45
2011
Unframed
(For inquiries on custom framing, please contact the gallery)
“The Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast believed that Salmon are Supernatural Beings with Human Spirits. They lived in villages deep under the ocean. In the spring, these Salmon People put on their outerwear of shiny skins and swam through the sea on their journey to dance at the mouths of rivers, before they willingly swam upstream to present themselves as food for the Human Beings. After the Salmon were eaten, with great respect, they put the complete fish skeleton back in the water with the belief that their Human Spirit would rise again and the flesh of the Salmon People would regenerate, continuing this cycle of life.
History speaks of these spirits giving generously; they were the integral link between mere survival for these peoples and the freedom to enrich their lives through the exploration and development of their art and culture.” – April White
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Iinang Xaadee – Guud (Eagle) II
April White
$225.00 CADSerigraph, Edition of 55
2016
Unframed
(For inquiries on custom framing, please contact the gallery)
“For my ancestors, the primary purpose of art is to unveil a parallel reality that is visible only in our minds—to share a glimpse of Supernatural Beings, with the world of Human Beings. Educated in science and with a spirit drawn to art, I see Earth as one great Being—with rock as a skeleton and running water as veins and arteries, great oceans as hearts—sustaining ecosystems. All as an interconnected biome—a web of life living, at least on the surface, symbiotically… as prey, and as predator.
Iinang Xaadee—Herring People play a vital role in the ecosystem. They nurture, feed, give of themselves to keep beings alive in all realms— undersea, earth, and sky. When balance prevails, Herring People gather to dance in their great longhouse in such great numbers and with such vigour that the atmosphere overhead reverberates with their excitement. Now, Human Beings see Herring solely as a resource, blinded, not seeing their true value, only seeing monetary gain at the expense of the whole.” – April White
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Iinang Xaadee – Kun (Humpback) I
April White
$225.00 CADSerigraph, Edition of 145
2016
Unframed
(For inquiries on custom framing, please contact the gallery)
“For my ancestors, the primary purpose of art is to unveil a parallel reality that is visible only in our minds—to share a glimpse of Supernatural Beings, with the world of Human Beings. Educated in science and with a spirit drawn to art, I see Earth as one great Being—with rock as a skeleton and running water as veins and arteries, great oceans as hearts—sustaining ecosystems. All as an interconnected biome—a web of life living, at least on the surface, symbiotically… as prey, and as predator.
Iinang Xaadee—Herring People play a vital role in the ecosystem. They nurture, feed, give of themselves to keep beings alive in all realms— undersea, earth, and sky. When balance prevails, Herring People gather to dance in their great longhouse in such great numbers and with such vigour that the atmosphere overhead reverberates with their excitement. Now, Human Beings see Herring solely as a resource, blinded, not seeing their true value, only seeing monetary gain at the expense of the whole.” – April White
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Iinang Xaadee – Kun (Humpback) II
April White
$225.00 CADSerigraph, Edition of 55
2016
Unframed
(For inquiries on custom framing, please contact the gallery)
“For my ancestors, the primary purpose of art is to unveil a parallel reality that is visible only in our minds—to share a glimpse of Supernatural Beings, with the world of Human Beings. Educated in science and with a spirit drawn to art, I see Earth as one great Being—with rock as a skeleton and running water as veins and arteries, great oceans as hearts—sustaining ecosystems. All as an interconnected biome—a web of life living, at least on the surface, symbiotically… as prey, and as predator.
Iinang Xaadee—Herring People play a vital role in the ecosystem. They nurture, feed, give of themselves to keep beings alive in all realms— undersea, earth, and sky. When balance prevails, Herring People gather to dance in their great longhouse in such great numbers and with such vigour that the atmosphere overhead reverberates with their excitement. Now, Human Beings see Herring solely as a resource, blinded, not seeing their true value, only seeing monetary gain at the expense of the whole.” – April White
Past Works
The artist’s Past Works at our Gallery have now sold; however, a custom order may be possible if the artist is available and accepting commissions.
