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Haida Gwaii Guitars: A Marriage of Music and Traditional Art music | by Peggy Stortz Far t o t h e north lies a land c a l l e d Haida G w a i i , k n o w n t o m a n y as t h e Q u e e n Charlotte Islands. G r e g a n d Chris W i l l i a m s g r e w up here, but, a couple of years ago, m o v e d t o North Vancouver at t h e request of the b a n d council in Skidegate. They w e r e asked t o c o m m i t five years to learn guitarmaking, with a view to applying traditional H a i d a art onto t h e guitars. The council then w a n t e d the y o u n g carvers t o return t o H a i d a G w a i i a n d teach others t o make guitars. The brothers apprenticed for a short t i m e w i t h a local guitar-making company. They also studied design, inlaying, engraving, a n d e m b e l l i s h m e n t at the A m e r i c a n School of Luthier, in H e a l d b u r g , C a l i f o r n i a . In time, they t e a m e d up w i t h t w o other Vancouver guitar-makers a n d established their o w n company. The Haida elders granted t h e m the permission t o use the name H a i d a G w a i i Guitars. The other partners, M a r k V a n t a a a n d Rob Bustos, are both skilled luthiers. The W i l l i a m s brothers learned m u c h f r o m t h e m about this craft. They, in turn, b r o u g h t t h e unique Haida artwork t o the project, e m b e l lishing t h e instruments w i t h images of raven, killer w h a l e , grizzly bear, s a l m o n , a n d more. The materials used for these inlays include abalone, mother of pearl, a n d s i m u l a t e d ivory. The bridge of each guitar is s h a p e d like a Haida canoe. A l t h o u g h each m a n has his o w n expertise, w h i c h he brings t o t h e c o n struction of the instruments, his attitude is not o n e of " h e does that a n d I d o t h i s . " They w o r k as a t e a m o n each creation. The incorporation of visual art onto musical instruments originated in ancient times. Images depicted told stories o r perhaps represented t h e visions a player s a w w h i l e p l a y i n g . W h e n t h e Haida elders asked the W i l l i a m s brothers t o apply their t r a d i tional artwork t o guitars, it w a s their a i m , a c c o r d i n g t o G r e g , " t o represent a n d justify the f o r m a n d tradition of Haida art a n d t o signify w h a t t h e art means in o u r culture. There are t h o u s a n d s a n d t h o u s a n d s of years of tradition in o u r art. It represents t h e histories of our f a m i l i e s . " A l t h o u g h the W i l l i a m s brothers create s o m e of the artwork for the guitars, they also use designs from other Haida artists, such as w e l l - k n o w n C a n a d i a n artist Reg D a v i d s o n , G w a i i Edenshaw, Randy Price, a n d Patrick Haida Gwaii guitars are available at the Spirit Wrestler Gallery in Gastown or directly through the company. Special orders are welcomed. Please call (604) 983-2780 or visit the website at www.haidagwaiiguitars.com Wesley, w h o d e s i g n e d t h e c o m p a n y logo, Raven W o m a n in t h e M o o n , w h i c h appears o n every guitar. The Sitka spruce for t h e s o u n d b o a r d s c o m e s from Haida G w a i i . The First N a t i o n s ' deep respect for t h e Earth is reflected in the fact that this w o o d is salvaged from trees that have b l o w n d o w n . Other w o o d s used in the m a n u f a c t u r e of these guitars include maple, r o s e w o o d , a n d mahogany. The partners at Haida G w a i i Guitars are h o n o u r e d to be b u i l d i n g these unique instruments. They are grateful for t h e help they have received f r o m the Haida b a n d council, f r o m various grants, a n d f r o m R o b Bustos's parents, w h o provided t h e m w i t h space t o w o r k in their o w n cabinet-making shop. Talented musicians such as blues guitarist Tom Lavin h a v e p r a i s e d t h e quality o f t h e guitars. 4 May | June