Calvin Bell
Haida Nation
Calvin Bell was born in 1950 in Masset, Haida Gwaii located off the Northern Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Calvin is a member of the Haida Nation and takes the Two-Finned Killerwhale, a mythical creature, and the Grizzly Bear as his family crest symbols.
Calvin is a fisherman who has been carving argillite since 1971. He credits Ron Russ, an established Haida argillite carver, for getting him started and for teaching him the basics of carving the slate. Presently, Calvin resides in Haida Gwaii where he carves not only argillite but also gold and silver. He maintains the traditional old style of carving and is one of the few artists to do so.
Calvin’s expertise is evident in each piece he creates. His depth of carving, precise inlay and flawless finish makes his artwork desirable by many collectors of Northwest Coast First Nation’s artwork.