Duane Pasco, at 91, is the elder statesman of Northwest Coast art. He began carving in the 1960s and had his first solo exhibition in 1966 in Seattle which was one of the first solo exhibitions of Northwest Coast art. Pasco has taught at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast in Hazelton and the University of Washington as well as many lectures, demonstrations and workshops. Among his many commissions is a large-scale installation of murals and sculptures for the Seattle International Airport. Pasco, with his wife Betty, founded the Jayhawk Institute to further promote Northwest Coast art and culture in Washington State.

The bentwood box uses a technology developed on the Northwest Coast. Kerfs would be carved into a clear plank of yellow or red cedar and then steamed with wet rocks and seaweed to soften the seams to the point that it could be folded into a box. The bottom is often attached with pegs or stitched with sinew. The boxes would expand when wet becoming water tight and used to haul water or fishing tackle on canoes. Cedar, being a natural repellent for insects, meant that these boxes were also ideal for food storage and especially in preparation for a ceremonial event where a large amount of food needed to be stored to feed the village and guests. More ornate boxes were used for burial, to store valued objects or for box-style drums. Many boxes were elaborately carved and painted to hold regalia, gifts that would be presented to dignitaries, and as seating at a potlatch. Modern boxes have been created as fine art, showcasing the carving and design / painting skills of an artist.