Stanley Clifford Hunt is the youngest son of Henry Hunt and one of 14 siblings in a family that would become a dynasty of Northwest Coast art. His grandfather, Mungo Martin, created and expanded the position of First Carver for what is now Thunderbird Park at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria. This position was inherited by Stan’s father, Henry Hunt who relocated the family from the village of Fort Rupert to Victoria to assist his father-in-law, Mungo Martin, with developing Thunderbird Park. Two of Stan’s older brothers, Henry and Richard would also hold the First Carver position which oversaw training programs, commissions and educational programs. Stan, being the younger brother, would begin carving and learning tool making from his older siblings and father. He would make frequent trips back to Fort Rupert where he was emersed in the ceremonial practices of the Kwak-waka’wakw nation. He began his initiation into the Hamatsa secret society at the age of 10. He would eventually choose to relocate back to Fort Rupert where his brother Calvin had also moved to establish a studio and gallery and to support cultural initiatives. Stan would follow his family’s commitment to teaching the art and culture to the next generation and to participate in the ceremonial traditions of their nation. His two sons, Jason and Trevor, are both established artists and part of a new generation of Hunt family artists.

Gary Wyatt