Josephine Mark, Mowachaht Nation. Josephine is from the Mowachaht First Nations Band in Gold River, British Columbia. She had an interest in art since she was a young girl although didn’t begin to carve wood until 2009 when she began learning from a master carver, Matthew Baker. He has been carving for over 30 years and was skilled in carving in the Squamish and Kwakiutl style of the Northwest Coast Aboriginal Art. For Josephine’s first year she sat with Matthew Baker, watching how he held and used his tools. She would ask him questions about his carvings and was curious about the work he does with cedar wood. Her curiosity and passion for art drove her to learn the craftsmanship skills that she has developed in the following years.
Since 2009 she has worked side by side for Matthew Baker, sanding and painting his carvings and now creates her own carvings. Josephine has developed her own style of carving that has an feminine flowing style which focuses on the animals in her traditional territory that are related to the female, like the butterfly and hummingbird. Often Josephine includes precious stone and abalone detailing which she inserts into her carvings.
Josephine has a love and passion for life and it is displayed in the work that she produces. She currently sells her pieces to Gallery’s throughout the Vancouver area has pieces in private collections worldwide.