(1950 – Present; Haida)

Haida artist Calvin Bell was born in Masset, Haida Gwaii in 1950. Calvin has been carving in argillite, the proprietary black stone found on Haida Gwaii, since 1971 when he was introduced to the art by Ron Russ. Calvin has since expanded his repertoire to include metalwork and jewelry design, translating traditional designs into silver and gold. Calvin’s argillite pendants often emphasize the natural beauty of the stone, and he has on occasion included abalone inlays to highlight the contrast between the iridescent shell and the pure black stone. Calvin’s family crests are the mythical Two-Finned Orca and the Grizzly Bear.