Melanie Russ
Haida
Melanie is a new artist to Steinbrueck Native Gallery. She is from Skidegate, which is on the island of Haida Gwaii, just off the coast of the mainland in British Columbia. She is the daughter of very well-known Haida argillite artist Ed Russ, who began teaching her to carve when she was just a young girl. He passed away recently, but Melanie feels that "he is still here with showing me the way me as he said to me to look at the rough argillite, then close my eyes, and I will see the design come out".
Her mom, Faye Russ, also taught her to carve and continues to be her inspiration. Melanie works alongside her mom, creating beautiful argillite sculptures together. She currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her children.