Dudley C. Carter

Dudley Christopher Carter (May 6, 1891 – April 7, 1992) was an artist and woodcarver from the Pacific Northwest. His works are on display in the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon and California. There are also works of his on display in Japan and Germany, as well as a private collection in Israel.

Carter was a participant in the "Art in Action" program during the 1940 season of the Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE). He was also the first King County, Washington Parks and Recreation artist-in-residence when he was 96 years old.

Early life

Carter was born to a pioneer family of Scottish-descent on May 6, 1891, in New Westminster, Canada. His father was originally from Barbados, and his mother was from Quebec; they came west in 1891, shortly before Dudley was born. He was a timber cruiser and forest engineer most of his life, exploring and mapping Pacific Northwest wilderness. The chief inspiration for Carter's art was his childhood among the Kwakiutl and Tlingit indigenous people.

There are three works by Carter on the City College of San Francisco Ocean Campus, The Ram (sometimes called the Mountain Ram), Goddess of the Forest, and The Beast. Dudley had donated The Ram because he knew it was the school mascot and it had been part of the Golden Gate International Exposition's Arts in Action exhibition. The Ram sculpture stood outside on the campus periodically changing locations from time to time, students would coat it in paint with campus colors red and white. Sometimes rival schools would repaint The Ram in their own school colors. By 1980, The Ram had many layers of paint and damage and in spring of 1983 it was restored by Carter with use of a pick axe and its original, natural redwood.

Influence in Washington state When ninety-six years old, Carter became the first artist-in-residence of the King County Parks and Recreation Department.

He had a home at 7447 159th Place NE, Redmond, Washington. Located in Slough House Park, the house was named "Haida House Studio". The artist bequest included his art studio, fashioned in the manner of a native Haida dwelling, and a group of monumental wood sculptures of the sort that brought the sculptor to international prominence.

On September 8, 2012, the Dudley Carter Park opened at the intersection of Leary Way and 159th Place Northeast.

Personal life Carter was married to Teresa Williams Carter (née Easthope) in December 20, 1919 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Together they had a daughter named Mavis Anne. Their marriage ended when Teresa Carter died on July 20, 1975, at age 81 in West Vancouver.

Public works Bird Woman (1932)Redmond Library, Redmond, WashingtonCarved from red cedar. Purchased by the founders of the Seattle Art Museum in 1932 for display in the new museum, later placed outdoors in Volunteer Park, restored and eventually loaned to the Redmond Public Library. 1935Wek'-Wek and the Holukmeyumkocenter Wek Wek and the Holukmeyumko (1935)Pet Cemetery in Marymoor Park, Redmond, WACarved from redwood as part of the Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE). Donated by Marvin Boys to King County Parks' collection. Currently labeled as translation "Wek'-Wek and the Falcon Man".1935Condorcenter Bird Woman (1947)Redmond Library, Redmond, WashingtonCarved from red cedar. Purchased by the Long Family and on long-term loan to the Redmond Library.1949Lake Wilderness TotemLake Wilderness Lodge, Maple Valley, WashingtonIn 1951, Carter designed and carved the central column of the Gaffney's Lodge, now Lake Wilderness Lodge, in Maple Valley, Washington. 1953Northgate TotemSuquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, Kitsap County, WashingtonA totem pole originally located at the entrance to Northgate Shopping Center, Seattle. Removed from the mall in 2007; extensively restored by the Washington Suquamish tribe and placed on the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort grounds in February 2008. 1954Old Man House Interpretive CenterOld Man House State Park, Suquamish, WADesigned and constructed by Dudley to mark a site used by the Suquamish tribe for some 2000 years.1958Big Horn HeadBellevue Public Library, Bellevue WAc.1960Faith, Hope, and LoveBayview Retirement Community, 11 W. Aloha, Queen AnneThree different works on the entrance wall.1961Chief Spokane Garrycenter Carving of Chief Spokane Garry (1961), photo from 2006St. Dunstan's Church of the Highlands Parish, Shoreline, Washington 1960Desert Scoutcenter Desert ScoutRedmond Library, Redmond, WashingtonCarved from redwood at Earl Neel's nursery, Palm Springs, CA. Purchased in 1975 by Allied Stores, acquired in 1995 by Marvin Boys. 1960Seagull On A Postcenter Seagull on a Post (1960)Dudley Carter Park, Redmond, Washington"Seagull in flight, high atop an upended driftwood log, purchased originally by Boeing executive, Wellwood Beall. Mrs. Beall thought it was out of scale in the swimming pool area of their home where her husband had had it installed. She insisted it "has to go!" So Wellwood sold it to his friend Don McAusland who thought it would be an ideal addition to the landscaping of his downtown Bellevue building. When Mr. McAusland died, his family donated the work to the city of Redmond for installation in Dudley Carter Park." -- Lyn Fleury Lambert, Dudley Carter's secretary and chronicler. 1962High Mountain Companions200px High Mountain Companions (1962)Dudley Carter Park, Redmond, WashingtonCarved from redwood at Earl Neel's nursery in Palm Springs, CA. Loaned by Marvin Boys. 1974Birds and Waterfall200px Birds and Waterfall (1974)Redmond Library, Redmond, WashingtonCarved from redwood. Donated by Marvin Boys to Redmond Public Library.1975Two Thunderbirdscenter Fawn and Bird (1979)Redmond Library, Redmond, WashingtonCarved from red cedar at Gibsons, BC. Donated by 'Lyn Lambert to Redmond Public Library.1980Mythical Bird200px Mythical Bird (1980)Pioneer Park, Mercer Island, WashingtonCarved from yellow cedar at Gibsons, BC. 1982Legends of the Deep #2200px Seeds of Enchantment (1987)Redmond Library, Redmond, WashingtonMade of red cedar. Sold to Penny Rediger, later to 'Lyn Lambert, loaned to Redmond Public Library.1987Adventures in Western WatersNorthwest Hospital, 1550 North 115th Street, Seattle, Washington1984Hatching Bird200px Hatching Bird (1984)North Bellevue Community Center, 4063 148th Ave NE, Bellevue, Washington, USADonated to the City of Bellevue by Marvin Boys.1989Fantail BirdRedmond Senior Center, Redmond, WashingtonThe Redmond Senior Center was closed in 2019 for renovations. 1989Three Panel Abstraction 200px Three Panel Abstraction (1989) Luke McRedmond Landing Park, Redmond, Washington "When many in the art community began exploring abstraction and other forms of modern art, Carter ventured there too. Three Panel Abstraction, installed at Luke McRedmond Landoning on the shores of the Sammamish River is one such example. A typical Carter owl roots comfortably on the left panel while a raven head is carved into the right panel. The geometry of both figures as well as the plant form carved into the center panel has been accentuated." -- Lyn Fleury Lambert, Dudley Carter's secretary and chronicler. 1990Windsong200px