Skip to content

Jim Hart pole in art bank

For $3,600 a year, any business in Canada can have a Haida totem pole in their lobby.One of the Canada Council Art Bank's latest acquisitions is a carved pole by Haida artist Jim Hart. Mr. Hart recently spent two weeks in Ottawa, along with his son Carl, putting finishing touches on the 12-foot red cedar pole entitled "Sister" (Bear Mother and Twins Pole). Right now, says Art Bank director Victoria Henry, the pole sits in the lobby of their Ottawa office, but any business or government office can request it. The process for renting art is outlined on their website and the rental fee does not include the cost of shipping and installing the piece.The Canada Council Art Bank owns 18,000 pieces of art making it the largest collection of contemporary Canadian art in Canada.Ms Henry says there are several other pieces by Haida artists in their collection, including a copper done by Jaalen Edenshaw which is now in the VIP Lounge at the Ottawa airport. She traveled to the islands last year to encourage artists to submit pieces.Aboriginal artists are in great demand at the Art Bank, she says.