Originally published in 2000, this groundbreaking publication by MOA Curators Bill McLennan and Karen Duffek explores historical Northwest Coast painting, and helps to make many of the compositions visible once again through infrared photography. It features hundreds of images of painted works from collections around the world, many seen for the first time in a century. Over the last 20 years the book has served as an essential resource for new generations of Indigenous artists and scholars, and continues to be in demand today. This reprint features a new foreword by Karen Duffek with commentaries by several contemporary First Nations artists.

The new edition is published by Figure 1 Publishing, and was made possible with the generous support of the Doggone Foundation as well as Yosef Wosk, both of whom wished to honour the legacy of the late Bill McLennan.

Remarks from MOA Director Susan Rowley, author Karen Duffek and contributor Lyle Wilson (Haisla) will be followed by book signing and refreshments. Copies of the book will be available in the MOA Shop for $65.

Bill McLennan (1948–2020) was Curator, Pacific Northwest at MOA. His pioneering research with infrared photography resulted in The Transforming Image: Painted Arts of Northwest Coast First Nations (with Karen Duffek, 2000); this book and other achievements reflect his passion for researching the history and dynamics of Northwest Coast art, and for sharing his knowledge with others.

Karen Duffek is the Curator of Contemporary Visual Arts and Pacific Northwest at MOA. Committed to supporting the activation of Northwest Coast Indigenous collections inside and outside the museum, her research, exhibitions, and publications focus on the relationships between historical and contemporary art practices, museum collections, communities, and art markets.