Jacobson, Dave

Dave Jacobson was born in Alert Bay, BC, the second of three boys and seven sisters. Dave lived most of his live in Fort Rupert. Before the age of five, he spent much of my time at my grandmothers (Lucy Nelson, maiden name Martin). They became very close and Dave believes that she and his mother are the persons responsible for teaching him the meaning of respect amongst relatives. He was four years old when his great uncle Herbert Martin taught him the rhythm and beat to the "Hamatsa" (Wildman Dance) using the lyrics written by Mungo Martin. As a child he was inspired by these men and he was also inspired by Willie Seaweed, when they went to visit and watch him carve, and to his dad's uncle Tom Johnson's to practice dancing wearing the traditional dance masks. 

Dave had a difficult time during his high school years because of epilepsy that would cause memory loss with a seizure but by the age of 22 he outgrew this condition and graduated in 1977 at Templeton Secondary School. He studied with his father Larry Jacobson for six month and learned how to carve miniature masks, bowls and totem poles in the Kwakiutl style. He has been carving ever since and have developed a style of his own, he started carving ceremonial dance masks. He later returned to school followed by a business administration program to further advance his business skills.

In 1997 he helped the construction of a 45 ft West Coast war canoe that hasn't been in existence for 200 years. Dave participated in Tribal Journeys and paddled in his canoe to the opening of the Indigenous Games, held in Victoria, BC. He also just recently participated in Tribal Journey's again to start the Healing Conference for Residential Schools and to commemorate the 50th. Anniversary of the return of the Potlatch and the celebration was held in Lower Squamish, BC. 

In 1999 Dave completed a 2 year Fine Arts Diploma program to start a new different style of combined art which includes silk-screening, plate etching, ceramics, painting and drawing, some computer graphics and fashion design. Dave also carved his first totem pole with a group of other carvers. It was commissioned by a private collector from New York, approx. 43 feet in height. In recognition of participating in the canoe journey's he has recently started a 12-foot personal canoe and has since completed a 27 ft wedding canoe.

Today Dave's art work is highly sought after and collection in private collections world wide. They can also be found in the finest Galleries on the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada.

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