Commission & Purchasing:
For information on commissions, or purchases, please click here.
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Overviews
James P. Bender, An Artist's Profile :
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- Artist's Profile
- Major Works of James P. Bender
- Mediums of James P. Bender
- Scale of James P. Bender
 
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Background And Teaching :
In 1972, while earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Seattle's University of Washington, James P. Bender began carving Northwest Native American art. During his early years, he studied under Bill Holm and Duane Pasco, noted artists who have made major contributions to the revival of Northwest Indian art. In appreciation of those who shared their artistry with him during his apprenticeship, James P. Bender continues to pass on his craft by remaining active in the teaching of others.
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INSTRUCTION :
- JAMES P. BENDER, ARTIST, Bainbridge Island, WA 1980 - Present
- Teacher of Contemporary Northwest Coast Art and Jewelry Making.
- Wolfdancer Studio / Kestral Tool, Lopez Island, WA 1982 - Present
- Teacher of Contemporary Northwest Coast Art and Jewelry Making.
- Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA 1984
- Demonstration - Silver Engraving
- Ketchikan Heritage Center, Ketchikan, Alaska 1981
- Teacher Of Mask Carving And Two Dimensional Design Courses.
- Primitive Arts Gallery, Seattle, Wa 1974-1977 Exclusive Rights
- Northwest Coast Art Classes at Oil & Water Arts, Bainbridge Island
- Bellevue Spiritridge School 5th Grade Art Class – Clan Designs For Bent Wood Box.
- Education And Apprenticeship
- University Of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Bachelor Of Fine Arts Degree, 1975
- University Of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA School Of Art, 1969 – 1971
- Duane Pasco, Artist, Poulsbo, Wa 1973-1978
- Apprentice Under Noted And Respected Contemporary Northwest Coast Artist.
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Mediums of James P. Bender :
The artist works with a wide variety of mediums. These include a variety of woods such as cedar, maple, alder, yew wood and yellow cedar, which James P. Bender uses in his creation of Totem Poles, Transformation Masks, Boxes and Bowls, and his Architectural Installations.
James P. Bender also works with a number of precious and semi-precious metals such as gold and silver, copper, and most recently, Cast Bronze; in addition to these, Mr. Bender uses materials such as cedar bark, abalone, ivory, feathers, leather, and mirrors, for accent in his artwork. The materials can all be used in Transformation Masks, gold and silver, copper, and Cast Bronze renderings of Mr. Bender's pieces.
I started using simple, natural rocks found on river banks and ocean beaches for the artstream design series. I liked the somewhat rough, natural surfaces that enhanced my designs. Once I developed the designs ot my satisfaction in the natural rock, I then changed to the bronze medium. |
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Scale of James P. Bender :
James P. Bender works in a wide variety of scale. These range from his Totem Poles, which are as large as fifty feet in height, to incredible small, detailed, silver and gold work in his Jewelry work.
However, almost all of his pieces – be they large Totem Poles, Small pieces of Jewelry work, or somewhere in between – are a combination of scales and detail.
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Commission & Purchasing:
For information on commissions or purchases including James P. Bender's new limited edition Cast Bronze works, please click here.
Or to view a sampling of previous works, take a look at James' Galleries. Or take a look at some of ' The Projects done over the years by Mr. Bender. |
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James P. Bender's Art has been shown in a number of galleries and exhibits over the years. Below, you will find a selected list of past and present showings along with dates. Also, Mr. Bender has done a number of pieces of art on commission, the second list is a selection of notable public, and private, collectors.
Exhibits and Commissions of James P. Bender :
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- Selected Gallery Exhibits of James P. Bender
- Selected Commissions and Collections of James P. Bender
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Selected Gallery Exhibits of James P. Bender :
- Bracelet displayed at National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC and New York; Catalog Number 25/6223
- Bailey Nelson Gallery, Seattle, WA; 1989 - Present
- Stonington Gallery, Seattle, WA; 1985 - Present
- Northwest Native Expressions, Sequim, WA; 1993 - 1995
- Objects Of Bright Pride, Juneau, AK And New York, NY; 1992 - 1994
- Neiman Marcus Traveling Exhibition (Through United States); 1990 - 1992
- Gallery Mac, Seattle, WA; 1990 - 1991
- Quintana's Gallery, Portland, OR; 1989 - 1992
- Galleria Primitive, Montecido, CA; 1987
- Bayard Gallery, Seattle, WA And New York, NY; 1985 - 1987
- Whale House Gallery, Seattle, WA; 1982 - 1984
- Soul-Catcher Gallery, Victoria, B.C., Canada; 1980 - 1982
- Arts Of Raven, Victoria, B.C., Canada; 1980 - 1982
- Museum Of History And Industry, Bellingham, WA (With Duane Pasco); 1977
- Primitive Arts Gallery, Seattle, WA (One-Man Show); 1975
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Selected Commissions and Collections of James P. Bender :
- Seven Cedars Casino Sequim, WA;
- Five Large Totem Poles (Two Interior, Three Exterior), 1995
- Pike Place Public Market, Victor Steinbrueck Park Seattle, WA;
- Safeco Insurance Company Of America Seattle, WA
- Jeff Smith (A/K/A The Frugal Gourmet), Private Collector Seattle, WA
- Duane And Katie Pasco, Private Collectors Poulsbo, WA
- John Hauberg, Private Collector Seattle, WA
- Richard White Seattle, WA
- Barbara Mac Seattle, WA
- David Collins, M.D. Winston-Salem, Nc
- Dale Putnam Seattle, WA
- Doug Weber Calistoga, Ca
- Bob And Martha Cram Seattle, WA
- Grant And Barbara Winther Bainbridge Island, WA
- Annette Sproul Seattle, WA
- Mr. And Mrs. Simpson Tacoma, WA
- Tom And Linda Harris Bainbridge Island, WA
- Mr. And Mrs. Laws Bainbridge Island, WA
- Anne Maxham Victoria, B.C., Canada
- Don And Emily Mansfield Bainbridge Island, WA
- Pat And Gail Barr Port Townsend, WA
- Alana Caffiere Stanwood, WA
- Mr. And Mrs. Fowley Tacoma, WA
- Lindley Morton And Corrine Oishi Forest Grove, OR
- HoWArd Roloff Victoria, B.C., Canada
- Bob And Lisa Grimm Bainbridge Island, WA
- Robert Wilson Stoneville, NC
- IslandWood – A School in the Woods, Bainbridge Island, WA
- Paul And Debbi Brainerd Bainbridge Island, WA
- Tom Wing - Private Collector
Restorations And Reproductions
- Pike Place Public Market, Victor Steinbrueck Park, Seattle, WA 1997, 2010
- Complete Cleaning, Refurbishing And Repainting Of Two Totem Poles.
- Various Northwest Coast Masterpieces 1980-Present
- Exact Reproductions Carved From Historical Artifacts.
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Commission & Purchasing:
For information on commissions or purchases including James P. Bender's new limited edition Cast Bronze works, please click here.
Or to view a sampling of previous works, take a look at James' Galleries. Or take a look at some of ' The Projects done over the years by Mr. Bender. |
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What's New:
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- Artist's Profile
- Cast Bronze Works
- Folk Figures Project
- Ichthyology Lodge
- Sunroom Commission
- Pike Place Public Market
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Artist's Profile :
With over 30 years experience, James P Bender has created an impressive body of Contemporary Northwest Coastal Artworks which includes:
Mr. Bender is recognized for his significant contributions to Contemporary Northwest Coast Indian Art. James' work summons both, a dignity, and a refinement, which honors this traditional art form through clean, simple, lines and impeccable craftsmanship. To explore the full range and scope of his art, take a look at James' Projects, and Gallery, showcase pages. |
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Cast Bronze Works :
For several years now, I have been experimenting with using Cast Bronze as a medium for my designs — This has been a rewarding fulfillment of a long-time desire of mine.
As with the Sunroom and its African Mahogany, I have been able to explore, and develop, a number of new techniques with satisfying results. The introduction of Cast Bronze into my work enhances the original designs which are carved in wood and has created some new, and inspired, artwork…
Working with several new models such as The Moon Mask and some older pieces like the Open Top Box, both of which are show to the left. I have begun Casting my art in Bronze which has brought a whole new life to my work.
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Folk Figures :
A man and a woman, husband and wife, brother and sister, these are personages that we can all relate to, and all hold common in our past. They are Pioneers, Our Ancestors, and common to all family histories.
These two figures, standing back to back, represent all the people of our lineage dating back past the furthest of our shadowed memory as individuals, and as civilizations. They exist in history, and in our imaginations.
I call them Folk Figures — Father Folk and Mother Folk… |
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Ichthyology Lodge
This project included a large, round, cedar panel carved with the figures that are the main figures in the world of fishes. This cedar panel is mounted on a large cabinet that opens up and reveals a teacher's visual aid in the form of a white board 96" x 96" for illustrating, and teaching, about fishes.
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Sunroom, Private Commission :
This commission was inspired to decorate the walls and entryway of a private residence undergoing a major remodel. The species of wood was new to me but I took to it right away as I began my design and carving work.
This project was done using Khaya, a type of African Mahogany. The sunroom was already trimmed out in this mahogany, so my carving fit right in as if from a single piece of wood. The figures tell a story of "The Tree of Life"; How all living creatures, even ourselves, are born dependant on the bounty of the earth to sustain us all during our time here.
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Pike Place Public Market Totem
I was commissioned in 1983 by Architect Emeritus Victor Steinbrueck to complete the two 50 foot totem poles that he designed for the Belvedere Park at Pike Place Public Market. The figures on these two totem poles represent how important the Farmers Market is to the people of Seattle. The park that surrounds the totems represents a very necessary space that Victor Steinbrueck felt is essential to people that live in the city. |
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Commission & Purchasing:
For information on commissions or purchases including James P. Bender's new limited edition Cast Bronze works, please click here.
Or to view a sampling of previous works, take a look at James' Galleries. Or take a look at some of ' The Projects done over the years by Mr. Bender. |
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