Butch Phillips (Artist Profile)
Butch Phillips, a tribal elder of the Penobscot Nation, grew up on Indian Island. He is a tradition bearer within his community.
Phillips is a birchbark artist known for etching winter bark with traditional Penobscot double curve motifs and designs. He is also recognized for his moose calls (article here), log carriers, and model canoes.
In 2002, Butch assisted in the construction of an 18-foot birchbark canoe that was finished and paddled in shifts during the annual Katahdin Spiritual Run, a 100-mile trek by canoe, bike and foot to Mount Katahdin. Later, Butch went on to build a 14-foot canoe on his own, and an 18-foot canoe with two of his sons. Since then, he has participated in events that showcase birchbark canoes while paddling the Penobscot River.
Butch has been instrumental in the restoration of the Penobscot River, advocating for the removal of dams to allow for the return of migratory fish species such as salmon and sturgeon. The restoration of the river was a collaborative effort by the tribe, seven conservation groups, the local power company, the State of Maine, and the Federal government. Butch is one of twenty-four Penobscot individuals featured in the documentary “The River is Our Relative.” In this film, Butch shares his spiritual connection and celebrates his cultural ties to the Penobscot River.
His art is featured in the collections of the Hudson Museum and the Abbe Museum as well as the Tekakapimek Contact Station for Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Butch will be showcasing etched birchbark at the 2024 Wabanaki Winter Market, sharing a table with his sister Gayle Phillips who creates decorative works and jewelry.
For more information, please visit: https://umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/butch-phillips/
Photo – Butch Phillips (Artist Profile)
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- Butch Phillips – Birch Bark Canoe (HM9255)
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- Butch Phillips – Moose Calls, Miniature Birch Bark Canoes, …
Video – Butch Phillips (Artist Profile)
Source: The Nature Conservancy
Upcoming 2024 Wabanaki Winter Market (Saturday, December 14, 2024):
Organized by the Hudson Museum, the Wabanaki Winter Market is New England’s largest holiday gathering of Wabanaki artists. The annual December event features award-winning Wabanaki weavers as well as new artists representing the next generation of artists.
The event is supported in part by a grant from the Onion Foundation.
Location of the event: The Collins Center for the Arts (2 Flagstaff Road | Orono, Maine)
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024 (from 9 am to 3 pm)
Contact: Gretchen Faulkner | Director, Hudson Museum (207.581.1904) For event updates, please visit: https://www.wabanakiwintermarket.org