William Cook Jr: his First Nations art in beautiful custom rugs

William Cook Jr., a renowned Kwakwaka’wakw artist from Alert Bay, British Columbia, has extended his artistic flair from exquisite jewelry to designing unique rugs for United Floors Victoria, blending traditional Indigenous motifs with contemporary home decor.

His exclusive rugs are available in the following exact sizes: 

  • 2’8″ x5′
  • 3’11” x5’9″
  • 5’3” x 7’9″
  • 6’7 x9’9”
  • 7’11 ” X 11’1”
  • 6’6″ ROUND

Background and Cultural Heritage:
Born into the ‘Namgis, Ma’amtagila, and Mamalilikala tribes, William and his brother were inspired by their grandfather, Gus Matilpi, who taught them the profound connections between art and cultural heritage. This foundation has fueled William’s diverse artistic endeavors. Known for his intricately carved silver and gold jewelry, William ventured into rug design, collaborating with United Floors Victoria to create pieces that integrate Kwakwaka’wakw cultural symbols into modern living spaces. This project represents a significant shift from jewelry to larger-scale functional artworks, allowing William to reach wider audiences.

The Rugs: Weaving Culture and Modernity:
The rugs feature traditional Kwakwaka’wakw imagery such as animals and mythological figures, woven into designs that fit contemporary aesthetics. By digitizing traditional carving design for rug production, William ensures that the cultural essence is preserved while making the art form accessible and practical for everyday use. These rugs do more than adorn floors; they serve as conversation starters about Indigenous art and traditions, helping to educate the public and celebrate Indigenous heritage in everyday environments. Owning a rug designed by William Cook Jr. offers a means of appreciating and participating in the preservation of Kwakwaka’wakw culture.

William Cook Jr.’s collaboration with United Floors Victoria exemplifies how traditional art can evolve and resonate within modern contexts. His rugs bridge the past and present, ensuring the vibrancy and relevance of Kwakwaka’wakw traditions in contemporary homes and offices. Through his innovative designs, William continues to contribute to the cultural dialogue and appreciation of Indigenous arts and United Floors Victoria is proud to be able to offer these pieces to Victoria.

artist william cook jr.

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Elizabeth SlossElizabeth Sloss
00:04 24 Nov 23
I had all the carpet replaced with engineered hardwood. From the shop to the completion these guys were fantastic. Brian was not pushy but perfectly attentive, and the installers were spectacular: pleasant, respectful, humorous, neat, they didn't leave one mark on my lovely walls and the install is remarkable. Full attention to detail and no mess. Full marks guys.
Sharon MacDonaldSharon MacDonald
17:50 01 Aug 23
Very professional. They did our flooring in one day. Mark was very helpful throughout the whole process. A very satisfied customer Bill.
Rina GrasmanRina Grasman
18:26 30 Jun 23
Outstanding business, product and service. We are very impressed with our new floors and the lovely area carpets we purchased from United Flooring. Highly recommend them for the high quality of workmanship provided and answering all kinds of questions we had. It was a pleasure doing business with them.
Kristina PlewesKristina Plewes
22:09 14 Jun 23
We came to United Floors with a multi-level stair and spare bedroom re-carpeting project as well as removal of carpet and putting down laminate in a second bedroom. Spoke with Brian Hood who was extremely helpful in choosing the correct carpeting and provided helpful flooring suggestions. He was always quick to respond to email questions and never had to wait for answers. The installers (Dan and Jamie) were extremely efficient and professional and I love the final result. I would highly recommend UFs and would use them again for any other flooring needs.
Carolyn FumalleCarolyn Fumalle
21:56 26 Feb 23
Diana SparksDiana Sparks
10:04 14 Feb 22
We would like to thank the team of United Floors in Victoria. Our entire home needed to be redone with carpet and vinyl plank flooring. Mark Houston, the manager, is truly a gem. Mark promised a great product with an installation done right. Jamie and Dan our installers, who we consider master craftsman, not only did it right, were friendly, hardworking perfectionists who did an absolutely stellar job. Mark Houston went above and beyond the call of duty, coming to our home several times to deliver supplies and to check on the progress of the job. Mark held to his promise, except he and his team delivered one hundred percent more than we expected. To say that we are happy is an understatement. We have found our flooring store. No need to look somewhere else.
Lorilei BakerLorilei Baker
20:28 10 Jan 22
I have done busy with United floors for almost 40 years and never been disappointed. Mark was awesome thank you!
Ally GuevinAlly Guevin
21:13 22 Oct 21
The most fantastic trades experience we've ever had! Darrell and Dave were professional, detail orientated, problem solvers, helpful, efficient, on-time, on budget, friendly and smart. Excellent experience.
Ian HaweyIan Hawey
20:44 28 Aug 21
Great selection of floor coverings. Friendly and helpful staff willing to offer assistance, without being pushy.
John OldaleJohn Oldale
18:10 18 Jun 21
Very satisfied with the sales experience, advice received on options and pricing, etc. Promises regarding delivery of product and installation dates were kept. Product was very satisfactory. Installers were excellent. All went well and we are happy to recommend United Flooring Victoria.
Charlotte CruseCharlotte Cruse
21:24 13 May 21
Spectacular service and great prices. The man helping me was very professional and helpful, will definitely be coming back just for the service!
PraetorianNUKEPraetorianNUKE
01:17 25 Apr 21
I needed some scrap carpeting for a DIY scratching post. I was helped by Barry. He was very courteous on the phone and when I arrived, the staff were polite and friendly. The scrap end carpet I needed, he gave to me for free! The day before I went to End of the Roll and they had a similar junk piece they insisted on charging $50 for! Their customer service was appalling as 3 of them stood around leaning and chatting, ignoring me, while the staff at United Floors are welcoming and attentive. For all my future interior needs I would absolutely choose United Floors without hesitation and do business with exceptional individuals like Barry.
Christine TuttleChristine Tuttle
18:50 14 Apr 21
We had new carpet installed and were very happy with the service provided! The service was professional and the end result is amazing! It's so hard to tell from a small sample, so we were nervous about how it would look but it's fantastic. It was installed really well - these guys know their stuff! Price point was very good as well. Would definitely recommend.
Tamara MunroTamara Munro
03:45 21 Mar 21
Appreciated the front desk assistance. Very pleasant and knowledgeable. The only draw back was when loading our flooring. The fellow asked if my husband “was just going to sit there”. I thought that was a bit salty. Otherwise very professional group.
Lauren WilsonLauren Wilson
17:13 05 Oct 20
Kelly in sales at United floors was an absolute pleasure to work with! She was always available when I needed to speak with her, and she site measured and quoted so fast (even on her day off!) with a great price point. Our installer was equally as professional and lovely. Overall, 10/10 customer service all around! I will be recommending Kelly and United Floors to everyone. Great job!
Stephen DUSTY RobertsStephen DUSTY Roberts
03:31 07 Jan 17
Great team here. They have the biggest selection of powerloomed rugs on Vancouver Island. I am in the rug washing and repair business and i can't recommend United Flooring enough to my clients. You can trust them as well!
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