My Grandfather
The person I chose to document is my grandpa Robbie Pachano and his work as an artist.
My grandpa Robbie is a self-taught artist and has been creating his carvings for over thirty years. He uses both caribou and moose antlers, and his carvings can vary in size depending on the antlers. He first began carving back in 1985, when his brother-in-law asked him to create an art piece using a moose antler. His process in creating these incredible carvings differs, he doesn’t work on them every day and says it’s more like a hobby than a profession.
The antlers he works with are given to him by locals, and most of them sell the antlers to him for a decent price. To create his carvings, he starts by sketching out ideas in his sketchbook or onto the antler itself. He finds inspiration from our Cree culture, drawing animals, cultural dwellings, and our way of life. He takes his time with his work, and he usually stops from working on one piece to start another. The tools he uses are rotary tools, like a Dremel, and he recently got a new tool that has a foot peddle called Foredom. He has a workshop in his backyard, but he mostly uses it during winter. During the warmer months he works outside, and usually works from the balcony of his house.
I decided to document my grandpa and his carvings because I wanted to show others his artwork. I always found his carvings fascinating and I hope others can appreciate them too. I went home during reading week, so I was able to visit my family and take these pictures of my grandpa’s amazing creations.
During the photo session with my grandpa, I talked with him and asked him many questions. I learned a lot about his process and was able to get a better understanding on how he creates them. I enjoy spending time with him because he shares his wisdom and teaches me many life lessons. I'm glad I was able to go home for the break, and I’m happy I got to see my grandpa.
