« Magic Hour started |Main | Design Inspiration »
Magic Hour – work in progress
July 24, 2008
Magic Hour, 60H x 40W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, work in progress.
Art history is human history. What we call Art is the expression of individuals finding connection with our humanity; who are we? How do we respond to our surroundings and who are we in relation the things we depend on for survival? Standing in front of the Totems I realized that the answers we sought long, long ago are the same, and the things we love now are the same things people have always loved. As Artists and Art Viewers we’ll never venture far from subjects that speak to the heart.
The originals of all the totem poles erected in Thunderbird Park on the grounds of the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, Canada are now protected from the effects of weather inside the museum. The totem portrayed in this painting is a replica of the Gitxsan Pole that was moved in 1958 from Kitwankool, BC. This version of the pole is named Skim-sim and Will-a-daugh, belonging to Chief Wiha (Wee-kha, Ernest Smith), the chief of the Wolf Clan: only the top 3/4 of the totem is portrayed. Due to deterioration caused by weather, the originals of all the totems in Thunderbird Park are now erected inside the museum and are replaced with replicas carved by Mungo Martin, chief carver, Henry, Tony and Richard Hunt (this one 1960).
Symbols/crests: The bird at the crown is a giant woodpecker (wee-get-welku). Legend reads that a female ancestor kept a pet woodpecker, feeding it so much it grew to be a giant monster that ate everything made of wood until it was killed. It sits atop 5 human figures who stand on the head of the Mountain Eagle (Skim-sim), who kidnapped and mated with a woman then devoured their offspring. The eleven small figures are humans fishing through holes in the ice. Under them and not pictured in the painting is Will-a-daugh, also known as “Person With a Large Nose”, holding her child who was conceived from a wood grub.
Categories: acrylic painting, B.C., Canada, history/multicultural theme, moon, sky, sunsets, The Majesty of Trees, travel, trees, work in progress | 2 Comments »
2 Responses to “Magic Hour – work in progress”
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:06
I love watching this develop!
Have you seen Robert Genn’s poles? And have you ever read the Forest Lovers by Susan Vreeland? It’s about Emily Carr who also was strongly connected to B.C.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:06
Hi Virginia, no, haven’t seen GR’s totem poles or read Susan Vreeland’s book, but will certainly look them up. Emily Carr also published some small books of her own with very entertaining stories and small sketches…easy to read if you don’t have much time for it. Thanks a lot. (Here’s Virginia’s website:) http://www.virginiawieringa.com/