John Livingston (1951–2019)

John Edmund Livingston was an adopted Kwakwaka'wakw master carver, painter, art appraiser, restorer, and mentor whose life's work bridged cultures and helped revitalize Northwest Coast Indigenous art. Born in Vancouver on July 21, 1951, he moved to Victoria as a young child and developed a lifelong passion for Northwest Coast Native art and culture. He died of cancer on March 9, 2019, at the age of 67.

## Early Life & Training

The eldest of Edmund and Dorothy Livingston's six children, John grew up in a family that valued education and social justice. His father, a geological engineer from New York, held a Master's from Cornell in geology and worked as a groundwater hydrology specialist for the B.C. government. His mother, Dorothy (née Corser), held a Master's in Social Work and was instrumental in creating the Victoria Native Friendship Centre — which brought young John into contact with a large urban Indigenous community.

In 1965, at just 14, John began a carving and design apprenticeship at Thunderbird Park, Royal B.C. Museum, under Henry Hunt (d. 1985) and his son Tony Hunt Sr. He learned Northwest Coast Native design in the traditional Kwagiulth style — tool techniques, hand skills, and the basics of carving. From 1971 to 1981, he and Calvin Hunt apprenticed with Tony Hunt Sr., carving totems at Thunderbird Park.

> "His knowledge and skills were incredible. He's truly going to be missed in the art world. Lots of young people looked to him for guidance because of his knowledge and his connection to the art world."

> — Calvin Hunt, Times Colonist

## Arts of the Raven Gallery (1969–1989)

In 1969, John and Tony Hunt co-founded Arts of the Raven Gallery in Bastion Square, Victoria. The gallery was a major force in Northwest Coast Native art for over 20 years:

- Organized international exhibitions of traditional Northwest Coast art

- Ran a workshop that trained many of the Kwakwaka'wakw artists working today

- Pushed Indigenous art out of kitschy tourist shops and into the world of serious collectors

- Set a standard where quality was the rule, no matter the price point

The gallery closed in 1989, a victim of its own success and rising downtown rents. But its influence was enormous — Tony Hunt teaching artists, those artists teaching others, creating a snowball effect that shaped an entire generation of Northwest Coast artists.

## Artistic Work

### Carving

John was a master wood carver who worked on over 25 large totem sculptures throughout his career. He worked on many large commissions alongside Henry Hunt Sr., Tony Hunt Sr., Calvin Hunt, Tony Hunt Jr., Don Yeomans, Robert Davidson, Tim Paul, and Art Thompson. He completed 6 totem poles for private collections ranging from 6 to 20 feet in height. His wall panels and large masks are in corporate and private collections throughout Canada and the USA, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

He was known for his extraordinary versatility — able to replicate Tlingit, Bella Bella, Nisga'a, and other styles. As Calvin Hunt said: "He could copy any style of Northwest Coast art."

### Painting & Printmaking

Beyond carving, John was an accomplished painter who produced over 50 limited edition prints since the early 1970s. His prints are held by galleries across North America and regularly appear at auction.

### Restoration & Appraisal

John was widely recognized as an expert appraiser and restorer of Northwest Coast art and artifacts. He worked on major restoration projects with Haida, Salish, and Nuu-Chah-Nulth artists, and served as a consultant to the Royal British Columbia Museum.

## Major Public Works & Commissions

### Beacon Hill Park Story Pole Restoration (2011)

John and his wife Maxine Matilpi cleaned and repainted Victoria's best-known totem — the 127-foot Story Pole in Beacon Hill Park, believed to be the tallest freestanding totem pole in the world. The work was completed on scaffolding over 120 feet in height.

### Veterans Memorial Totem Pole, Broadmead Lodge (2002–2003)

Carved with Calvin Hunt and Mervin Child, this totem pole at Veterans Memorial Lodge in Victoria honours the contributions of Canada's Indigenous war veterans. Calvin Hunt called it "one of our finest poles." The pole was rededicated at a 20th-anniversary ceremony in 2023.

### Stanford University Totem Pole Restoration (2013)

John and Maxine traveled to Stanford to restore two B.C. totem poles: Boo-Qwilla (1995) by Art Thompson and The Stanford Legacy (2002) by Don Yeomans. John had been assistant carver on both pieces. Art Thompson had requested before his death in 2003 that John handle any future restoration.

> "Art Thompson was a dear friend of mine who is gone now. At the time of his passing, he said, 'If there is restoration to be done to my poles, I want you to do it.' I consider that a big honor and I want to respect that."

### The Sea Captain — Surrey Central SkyTrain Station (2019)

A large hanging wooden sculpture at Surrey Central, created with Marianne Nicolson. Inspired by a 19th-century Haida pipe, it considers the history of travel and immigration to the coast, privileging the Indigenous vantage point.

### Totem Pole & Box Drum — Musical Instrument Museum, Scottsdale, AZ

Created with Calvin Hunt from red cedarwood, displayed in the MIM's Pacific Northwest gallery.

### Alnoba, Kensington, NH

A totem pole carved with Calvin Hunt — Raven, Killer Whale & Seal, Grizzly Bear of the Sea & Salmon — in the Alnoba outdoor sculpture collection.

### 25-Foot Feast Dish — Canadian Museum of History

Carved with Calvin Hunt for the national museum in Gatineau, Quebec.

## Cultural Role & Adoption

Through his decades-long relationship with the Hunt family, John participated in several large family potlatches and was given names and rights to a number of important Kwakwaka'wakw dances. In 2017, the Hunt family formally adopted John during a ceremony at the Fort Rupert Longhouse, witnessed by 30 chiefs.

Since 1979, he was deeply involved in "The Hunt Family, Fort Rupert Dancers" — coordinating and participating in over 20 ceremonial dance performances across North America and Europe, sometimes involving groups of 15 people, 300 pounds of crated dance gear, and multi-city European tours.

> "John was that connecting braid of cedar rope, a mastermind of professionalism who, with his cultural knowledge and humility, was an ambassador for our communities."

> — Kaleb Child, Director of Indigenous Education, B.C. Ministry of Education

## Legacy & Mentorship

John was revered as a teacher and mentor. His students included Rande Cook (hereditary chief of the Ma'amtagila, Audain Professor at UVic), Simeon Cadwallader (jeweler and carver), and many others. He co-curated the first exhibition at Victoria's Alcheringa Gallery featuring the work of the Hunt family in 1993.

His friend and collector Gary Bell credited John with sparking his passion for Northwest Coast art — Bell's collection was later auctioned by Heffel Fine Art, with John's provenance noted on multiple pieces.

> "Johnny taught us confidence. He instilled it in us, and always continued to build on it, no matter how many years had passed."

> — Mervyn Child, carver

## Personal Life

John's life partner was Maxine Matilpi, a Kwakwaka'wakw hereditary chief and master button blanket artist. Together they raised a blended family: children Jason Carruthers, Ann-Marie Livingston, Aubrey Anderson, Mandy Razor, and Carla Maniple, along with four grandchildren. His siblings are Mary, Ann, Jean, Ellen, and Bill.

His celebration of life was held at the Songhees Wellness Centre, Victoria, on April 6, 2019.

## Web Links

### Obituaries & Memorials

### Gallery Biographies & Artwork

### Museum Collections

### Public Art & Commissions

### Restoration Work

### Video

### Auction Records & Art Market

### Personal Profiles & Blogs

### Related Context