Sparrow, Jody
Jody Sparrow, born 1970 in North Vancouver, BC, Musqueam/Squamish, is a trained carpenter, receiving his Red Seal in 2005 from the International Trades Association. In 2010, he began carving wood, and is self-taught. Jody studied at the Native Education College from 2013 to 2014 under Nisga'a artist Robert Tait. Jody was awarded a Musqueam Mentorship Scholarship from the YVR Art Foundation in 2023.
Artist Statement: "I am a xʷməθkʷəy̓əm born and raised Coast Salish artist whose ancestry is from Musqueam/Squamish Nations. I am part of the movement to revive and celebrate Coast Salish art styles in Coast Salish lands, currently passing my knowledge on to my daughters and granddaughter. I am most recognized for my work reviving Coast Salish traditional and contemporary canoe and paddle styles and am well known for my unique Coast Salish jewelry style, which includes Coast Salish Goat horn designs. I have been carving for the past 11 years. I jumped right into doing Bentwood Boxes, learning as I go with steaming, as I am a Red Seal carpenter and am familiar with mill working. With my carpenter skills I am able to mill my own wood to create 5' x 3' panels and circular ones, too, by laminating 3" x 6" red or yellow cedar together. I was first introduced to carving at 7 years old by the old traditional carvers of my Musqueam community, which was Northers style plaques and 10" mini totem poles. It wasn't until the year 2000 that I had taken a carving tool course where we made our own blades with handles, and with those I made a bowl and mask"
