Gary Starr

Gary Starr was born in Rochester, New York in 1973. His birth father is Cree and his Mother is Mohawk and when Gary was 5 his mother married his dad, Reg Snow, of the Kwakwaka’wakw.

Starr has always been cut out for art. He is currently one of the finest carvers of puppets and articulated masks. The movement that he can create using joints and pulleys is amazing.

As a young man, Gary traveled the Pow Wow trail on his own. He first began Fancy Dancing, then Grass and Hoop Dancing. He became a champion Traditional Dancer.

He has made his living for years as an actor for television and feature films. Some of his work includes “Bordello of Blood,” “Tales of the Crypt,” and CBS's “North of 60.”

When “North of 60” went off the air, Gary turned to carving in the Kwakwaka’wka style. Barry Scow, of Alert Bay, was Gary’s mentor and teacher. Other First Nations carvers such as Beau Dick, Wayne Alfred, and Stan Hunt III all also greatly influenced Gary.