Garth Harrison
| Garth Harrison is an educator who first began working with birch bark as a study into lost or nearly lost Indigenous art forms. He was first introduced to the art of birch bark biting by Sally Milne, an elder and birch bark artist from Lac La Ronge whom Garth had come into his classroom to demonstrate the art of birch bark “biting”. Garth found that he had the proper bite to perform the art and so, took it up as a hobby. Over time, he was encouraged to explore his ability by friends and elders within the community he was living in. He has now been a birch bark artist for 19 years and shares and sells his pieces around the world. Garth’s work can be found in over 30 countries including Australia, China, Germany, Poland, Ireland, and The United States.
Birch Bark biting’s were first used as patterns for other art forms such as porcupine quill designs on baskets and beading on coats and moccasins. Though each artist uses different teeth to bite, Garth uses his eye teeth. After folding the thinly peeled birch bark in a certain way, he bites patterns into the bark, then unfolds it to expose the design. Each piece is unique in both the design itself and the piece of birch it is bitten into. Garth has gone on to use birch bark for other artistic uses and now designs birdhouses, miniature canoes, moose calls, ornaments, and tree toppers. “When a man sits down in quietness to listen to the teachings of his spirit many things will come to him in knowledge and understanding.” – Chief Dan George |
