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Val Malesku
Val Malesku was born in British Columbia in 1953 to a Romanian father and a Cree mother. She moved to Haida Gwaii, BC in 1972 where she pursued a variety of occupations including gold prospecting and commercial fishing. She began working with silver and gold in 1981 and perfected her skills in Northwest Coast formline, learning alongside some of the finest contemporary Haida artists, including Bill Reid, and Reg Davidson. Her work and friendship with Reid had an important influence on her art and life. She was active within the Haida culture and ceremony for many decades.
Malesku was also an accomplished sewer, well known for her button blankets, ceremonial vests and dance regalia. Although she was trained mostly as a jeweller she also worked in wood and paper. In 2012, she won an award through YVR and was commissioned to create a series of street banners that lined the streets on the approach to the Vancouver International Airport. That same year she released her first serigraph edition. The popular print "Salmon Eggs Unleashed" is a Northwest Coast expansion of a "dot" pattern made famous by British Artist Damien Hirst. The print, like all of Malesku's work, is an interesting blend of a modern contemporary aesthetic and the traditional formline of the Haida.
Raven Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Raven is central to coastal mythology. As a culture hero, a transformer, and a trickster, his adv...
Raven is central to coastal mythology. As a culture hero, a transformer, and a trickster, his adventures at the beginning of time released the sun and the moon and brought the world into existence. Raven is identified by its straight beak and lack of ears or plumage on the head.
$590.00
Eagle Earrings
Val Malesku (Cree)
Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is ...
Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is respected for its intelligence and power, as well as its extraordinary vision, in both the literal and figurative senses. Eagles in myth are, likewise, usually noble characters. Eagle is revered as a powerful hunter. Groups of mythical Eagles may gather for co-operative whale hunting expeditions, since, unlike the giant Thunderbird, Eagle is not strong enough to hunt whales alone. Eagle may ofte...
$620.00
Frog Earrings
Val Malesku (Cree)
"As a creature that lives in two worlds, water and land, the frog is revered for its adaptability...
"As a creature that lives in two worlds, water and land, the frog is revered for its adaptability, knowledge and power to traverse worlds and inhabit diverse realms, both natural and supernatural. Frogs are the primary spirit helper of shamans" (Shearar 2000:48) - Understanding Northwest Coast Art: A Guide to Crests, Beings and Symbols
$170.00
Frog Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Frogs are both social, vocal and are associated with the power of transformation and the ability ...
Frogs are both social, vocal and are associated with the power of transformation and the ability to traverse worlds. As the primary spirit helpers of shamans, frogs are communicators and often represent the voice of the people. Frogs were often carved at the top of totem poles to symbolize the communication of warnings or impending danger. Frog is generally given large eyes, prominent lips with a projecting tongue and webbed feet.
$1,400.00
Eagle Earrings
Val Malesku (Cree)
Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is ...
Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is respected for its intelligence and power, as well as its extraordinary vision, in both the literal and figurative senses. Eagles in myth are, likewise, usually noble characters. Eagle is revered as a powerful hunter. Groups of mythical Eagles may gather for co-operative whale hunting expeditions, since, unlike the giant Thunderbird, Eagle is not strong enough to hunt whales alone. Eagle may ofte...
$100.00
Raven Earrings
Val Malesku (Cree)
Raven is central to coastal mythology. As a culture hero, a transformer, and a trickster, his adv...
Raven is central to coastal mythology. As a culture hero, a transformer, and a trickster, his adventures at the beginning of time released the sun and the moon and brought the world into existence. Raven is identified by its straight beak and lack of ears or plumage on the head.
$100.00
Frog Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Frogs are both social, vocal and are associated with the power of transformation and the ability ...
Frogs are both social, vocal and are associated with the power of transformation and the ability to traverse worlds. As the primary spirit helpers of shamans, frogs are communicators and often represent the voice of the people. Frogs were often carved at the top of totem poles to symbolize the communication of warnings or impending danger. Frog is generally given large eyes, prominent lips with a projecting tongue and webbed feet.
$300.00
Eagle Earrings
Val Malesku (Cree)
Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is ...
Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is respected for its intelligence and power, as well as its extraordinary vision, in both the literal and figurative senses. Eagles in myth are, likewise, usually noble characters. Eagle is revered as a powerful hunter. Groups of mythical Eagles may gather for co-operative whale hunting expeditions, since, unlike the giant Thunderbird, Eagle is not strong enough to hunt whales alone. Eagle may ofte...
$110.00
Hummingbird Earrings
Val Malesku (Cree)
Hummingbirds are often described in stories as tiny rainbows. They symbolize love, beauty, wealth...
Hummingbirds are often described in stories as tiny rainbows. They symbolize love, beauty, wealth and prestige. Hummingbirds are known as a symbol of good luck to anyone who sees them. Hummingbird can be distinguished by a long pointed beak and is often shown alongside floral elements.
$160.00
Oval Salmon Earrings
Val Malesku (Cree)
Salmon is fundamental to all coastal peoples, and is a symbol of regeneration, health and life. M...
Salmon is fundamental to all coastal peoples, and is a symbol of regeneration, health and life. Many myths tell of people taken to the undersea world of the Salmon and return with secret knowledge and powers. Salmon have always been viewed as the life force for Indigenous communities. Salmon is often represented by scales, small fins and striated tail fin.
$90.00
Raven Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Raven is central to coastal mythology. As a culture hero, a transformer, and a trickster, his adv...
Raven is central to coastal mythology. As a culture hero, a transformer, and a trickster, his adventures at the beginning of time released the sun and the moon and brought the world into existence. Raven is identified by its straight beak and lack of ears or plumage on the head.
$90.00
Eagle Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is ...
Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is respected for its intelligence and power, as well as its extraordinary vision, in both the literal and figurative senses. Eagles in myth are, likewise, usually noble characters. Eagle is revered as a powerful hunter. Groups of mythical Eagles may gather for co-operative whale hunting expeditions, since, unlike the giant Thunderbird, Eagle is not strong enough to hunt whales alone. Eagle may ofte...
$110.00
Butterfly Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Butterfly is increasingly popular today in Northwest Coast art. In some stories Butterfly is Rave...
Butterfly is increasingly popular today in Northwest Coast art. In some stories Butterfly is Raven’s companion, acting as a scout who leads Raven to food sources and uncovers hiding spots.
$130.00
Salmon Egg Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Salmon is fundamental to all coastal peoples, and is a symbol of regeneration, health and life. M...
Salmon is fundamental to all coastal peoples, and is a symbol of regeneration, health and life. Many myths tell of people taken to the undersea world of the Salmon and return with secret knowledge and powers. Salmon have always been viewed as the life force for Indigenous communities. Salmon is often represented by scales, small fins and striated tail fin.
$100.00
Raven Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Raven is one of the most important figures in the oral traditions of the Northwest Coast. As a cu...
Raven is one of the most important figures in the oral traditions of the Northwest Coast. As a cultural hero, a transformer, and a trickster, his adventures at the beginning of time brought the world as we know it now into existence. It was Raven who placed the sun, moon and stars in the sky after stealing them from a supernatural chief. Raven also discovered the first humans and released them into the world.
$100.00
Eagle Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is ...
Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is respected for its intelligence and power, as well as its extraordinary vision, in both the literal and figurative senses. Eagles in myth are, likewise, usually noble characters. Eagle is revered as a powerful hunter. Groups of mythical Eagles may gather for co-operative whale hunting expeditions, since, unlike the giant Thunderbird, Eagle is not strong enough to hunt whales alone. Eagle may ofte...
$90.00
Frog Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Frogs are both social, vocal and are associated with the power of transformation and the ability ...
Frogs are both social, vocal and are associated with the power of transformation and the ability to traverse worlds. As the primary spirit helpers of shamans, frogs are communicators and often represent the voice of the people. Frogs were often carved at the top of totem poles to symbolize the communication of warnings or impending danger. Frog is generally given large eyes, prominent lips with a projecting tongue and webbed feet.
$130.00
Frog Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Frogs are both social, vocal and are associated with the power of transformation and the ability ...
Frogs are both social, vocal and are associated with the power of transformation and the ability to traverse worlds. As the primary spirit helpers of shamans, frogs are communicators and often represent the voice of the people. Frogs were often carved at the top of totem poles to symbolize the communication of warnings or impending danger. Frog is generally given large eyes, prominent lips with a projecting tongue and webbed feet.
$100.00
Salmon Egg Pendant
Val Malesku (Cree)
Salmon are fundamental to all coastal peoples, and are a symbol of regeneration and life. Many my...
Salmon are fundamental to all coastal peoples, and are a symbol of regeneration and life. Many myths tell of people taken to the undersea world of the Salmon who return with secret knowledge and powers. According to Salish legends, the salmon were people with superhuman abilities and eternal lives. They lived in great houses under the ocean but since they knew that humans on land needed food, they offered themselves to the land based tribes as food by turning into salmon fish. Their spirits w...
$100.00
Butterfly Earrings
Val Malesku (Cree)
Butterfly is increasingly popular today in Northwest Coast art. In some stories Butterfly is Rave...
Butterfly is increasingly popular today in Northwest Coast art. In some stories Butterfly is Raven’s companion, acting as a scout who leads Raven to food sources and uncovers hiding spots.
$140.00