Robin Rorick is descended from the Yahgulaanas Raven Clan of the Haida Nation. He is a left-handed artist. His works range from large scale cedar carvings and large scale cedar and canvas ceremonial dance screens to limited edition prints and drums and medium scale carvings as well as some ceremonial items that will not appear in his artist portfolio. He was raised on Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) and Hornby Island. His Haida name is Sk’uyuu.
Robin’s mother is renowned Master Spruce Root Weaver, Isabel Rorick. To paint her weavings, Robin trained under his Uncle Robert Davidson. Robin previously learned from his Uncle’s series of design workshops for Haida artists on Haida Gwaii. He apprenticed under Master Canoe Carver Joe Martin to make a traditional Nuu-chah-nulth dugout canoe, and apprenticed under his cousin Ben Davidson for the carving of a 30 foot totem pole. Robin’s maternal great great grandparents were Haida Artists Charles and Isabelle Edenshaw, his great grandparents Robert and Florence Davidson, and his grandparents Victor and Primrose Adams. His paternal great grandmother was Selina Peratrovich. Robin’s work was included in “Gaaysigaang: an ocean forum for Haida Gwaii” at the Haida Heritage Centre and in “Haida Masterworks: the ancestral spirit lives on” at Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery in 2009. His work appeared in the shows “Signed Without Signature: Works by Charles and Isabella Edenshaw at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, and “Spirits of the Sea” at Alcheringa Gallery in Victoria and in "Haida Masterworks II" at Coastal Peoples Art Gallery in Vancouver. His art can be seen currently at "Resurgence" and “Masters of Disguise: Masks of the Pacific NW Coast” at Stonington Gallery in Seattle. Stonington Gallery will host a joint show exclusively featuring collaborations between Robin and his mother Isabel in November 2016. At the end of 2009 Robin went to Guatemala as part of a Haida contingency to share in an arts and culture exchange with the Mayan people at Lake Atitlan. The theme of this gathering was “Strengthening the Ancient Spiritual Trade Routes.” While in attendance, Robin shared his Haida art and performed Haida songs and dances in exchange with the Mayans. Robin is most influenced by the Classical Haida art of Charles Edenshaw. In his daily creation practice, Robin strives for continuity with his ancestors through intensive study of Haida ancestral works. |