Fred
Lauth, Jr., is Tlingit and Haida, Raven from Klawock Kwáan.
He began carving in 1985.
He was born in Ketchikan and raised 2 miles south of that
community in the Native village of Saxman. The village is famous for its
Saxman Totem Park, and he was inspired during his frequent visits to the
park, where he watched the carvers and studied the old totems.
His mother is Marian Peratrovich from Klawock and his father
is a well-known carver, Fred Lauth, Sr., from Hydaburg. His father taught
totem pole carving to him, and his father's brother Frank Natkong taught him to carve
small
totem poles. He was raised as a fisherman in the summer and fall and he
apprenticed during the winter months.
He makes masks, totems, spoons, paddles and bowls, and can
produce them on request.
He also enjoys painting
designs on canvas.
The artist’s style of
paddle is contemporary because his pieces are 3-dimensional. The artist
first learned two dimensional relief, then later he learned to carve totems.
He combines the styles in his paddles.
He does contemporary and
traditional designs.
