Dwelling Inside a Work of Art: An Open Letter to James Hart

This letter was written to Master Carver James Hart and delivered to him in person in Haida Gwaii on April 25, 2026. I am sharing it here as an open letter of gratitude — not as a statement on his behalf, but as a reflection on what his work has taught me, and how it has transformed the way I speak about art with visitors at the Audain Art Museum. Dear James Hart, I met you for the second time at Audain’s 10th anniversary celebration. I realize now that I have been composing this letter in my head for months. One always hesitates to say too much to someone they deeply admire, and selfishly that night, I would have loved to talk with you, asking more questions about your process, what is in your mind when you carve, what you imagine and continue to imagine, and why your journey as an artist has taken you 10,000 years. At the book launch last November, you offered us many bits of wisdom. As a volunteer docent at the Audain Museum, I have been sharing your wisdom with visitors on my…