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Namgis, Maamtagila and Mamalilikala

Rande Cook

Rande Cook (Galapa) was born in 1977 in the northern Vancouver Island town of Alert Bay, B.C.He spent his early years in Alert Bay before moving to Victoria in 1991. His cultural heritage is in the Namgis, Maamtagila and Mamalilikala tribes. His grandparents, Gus and Florence Matlipi raised him with strong cultural views and ties to this rich heritage. Rande's grandfather taught him the essential elements of art and impressed upon him how art both reflects and connects to the culture. Rande learned the importance that art holds and how it contributes to maintaining and preserving a flourishing culture. Among his influences Rande credits his brother Will Cook Jr., William Wasden Jr., Beau Dick, Don Yeomans, Bruce Alfred and, most recently, John Livingston. During his apprenticeship with John, Rande has explored woodcarving, mask making, box design and numerous other forms of coastal First Nations art. Rande says that from all of his mentors he has developed an appreciation for coastal artists and their many variations of style and expression. The Peterson Gallery is proud to represent this very talented artist.