Haida Artist Rachel Langford
I create vibrant handmade jewelry that embodies both traditional Haida motifs and contemporary design. Using unique materials like Niobium and vegan leather give my jewelry a distinctly modern look.
I'm originally from Vancouver, B.C. Canada, I have lived in northern California for the last 9 years. I was taught to carve silver by my mother, a renowned Haida carver, Sharon Hitchcock (“Kinta-way”) and by Dan Wallace, an accomplished Haida/ Kwakwaka'wakw carver who taught me through the jewelry program at the Native Education College in Vancouver, British Columbia. I learned the art of traditional cedar work from my sister Holly Williams and my aunt Loretta Williams. I have been creating one a kind Haida art work for the past 11 years. My work is currently being sold at: The Seattle Art Museum, The Anchorage Museum, Fort Ross State Park in California, The Crocker Art Museum, The Burke Museum, The Autry Museum, The Lattimer Gallery in Vancouver, B.C. and the Lawlor Godsmith Shoppe in Ladner, B.C.
It was a real honor to be taught Haida design and I didn’t enter into the process lightly. For thousands of years master Haida carvers have brought to life our stories, our history and our traditions though art. I was taught that to even begin to understand the Haida artform you would need to study and draw it for many, many years. Haida art follows a strict set of rules, the skill lies in creating artwork within the strict guidelines of the artform. There is still so much for me to learn about traditional Haida art.
I was taught it is critical to pass on our traditional art, so it is never lost again. So, in the last few years, I have had the opportunity to share what I have learned about Haida Art with members of our Haida &Tlingit (Alaska Native) community and with California's of all ethnic backgrounds. I taught an etching course using our traditional designs, I have helped teach traditional cedar weaving courses and have been the Featured Artist/ Demonstrator at Alaska Native day at Fort Ross State Park, 2 years in a row.
To learn more about Haida Art, Leather Jewelry, Vegan Leather Jewelry or Anodized Titanium click on the links.
I'm originally from Vancouver, B.C. Canada, I have lived in northern California for the last 9 years. I was taught to carve silver by my mother, a renowned Haida carver, Sharon Hitchcock (“Kinta-way”) and by Dan Wallace, an accomplished Haida/ Kwakwaka'wakw carver who taught me through the jewelry program at the Native Education College in Vancouver, British Columbia. I learned the art of traditional cedar work from my sister Holly Williams and my aunt Loretta Williams. I have been creating one a kind Haida art work for the past 11 years. My work is currently being sold at: The Seattle Art Museum, The Anchorage Museum, Fort Ross State Park in California, The Crocker Art Museum, The Burke Museum, The Autry Museum, The Lattimer Gallery in Vancouver, B.C. and the Lawlor Godsmith Shoppe in Ladner, B.C.
It was a real honor to be taught Haida design and I didn’t enter into the process lightly. For thousands of years master Haida carvers have brought to life our stories, our history and our traditions though art. I was taught that to even begin to understand the Haida artform you would need to study and draw it for many, many years. Haida art follows a strict set of rules, the skill lies in creating artwork within the strict guidelines of the artform. There is still so much for me to learn about traditional Haida art.
I was taught it is critical to pass on our traditional art, so it is never lost again. So, in the last few years, I have had the opportunity to share what I have learned about Haida Art with members of our Haida &Tlingit (Alaska Native) community and with California's of all ethnic backgrounds. I taught an etching course using our traditional designs, I have helped teach traditional cedar weaving courses and have been the Featured Artist/ Demonstrator at Alaska Native day at Fort Ross State Park, 2 years in a row.
To learn more about Haida Art, Leather Jewelry, Vegan Leather Jewelry or Anodized Titanium click on the links.