Gus Cook

Gus Cook became interested in the art of the Kwakwaka’wakw at a young age through various cultural programs at his elementary school. In the development of his interest Cook's mentors include Rande Cook, William Cook, Richard Sumner and Frank Nelson. 

In 2011 he became interested in the art of repoussé. Repoussé is an ancient technique of working metal meticulously from the reverse side. It is a laborious process but the results are striking, allowing sheets of metal to take on three dimensional shapes. Cook enrolled in an advanced repoussé program in Italy run by Italian master Valentin Yotkov, followed by a second program that took place in New York. For Cook, this way of working metal, combined with the art of the Northwest Coast First Nations, has opened up creative opportunities in the way his culture can be visually represented. Cook has used this technique to make jewelry, sculpture, and mixed media pieces including rattles, masks and frontlets. 

In 2011 Cook was featured in a group exhibition Chasing Form: New Directions in Repoussé at Alcheringa Gallery in Victoria, BC.