Freda Diesing, Haida sitting Eagle crest design

The work of carver Freda Diesing (b.Feb 6, 1925-d.Apr 12, 2002) is distinguished not only for its contribution to the Northwest Coast artistic revival, but for challenging historic conventions circumscribing carving and printmaking as male activities. Diesing attributes knowledge of her Haida heritage to her grandmother, a spruce root basket Weaver whose brothers were master carvers and gold and silver Jewelers.

In 1957 she studied painting at the Vancouver School of Art; yet it was not until a decade later until Robert Davidson, Tony Hunt and Bill Holm at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art, that Diesing would begin to carve using traditional formline design. Regarded as an eminent instructor and mentor, Diesing has influenced many respected artists, including Dempsey Bob, Norman Tait, and Don Yeomans. Although best known for her portrait mask often depicting women, Diesing has erected numerous commission poles, designed ceremonial button blankets, and carved wall panels for the Prince Rupert General Hospital.

Internationally, she has served as artist-in-residence in the Dominican Republic and participated in sculpture symposia in Finland.
(directly from Joan Acland’s First Nations artists in Canada: A Biographical/Bibliographical guide, 1960 to 1999, https://archive.org/details/firstnationsarti0000acla/page/142, 2001)