The Raven Project

[Robson Valley]

I have admired and been inspired by the art and carvings of the North Coast style (Haida, Tlingit & Tsimshian) of Pacific Northwest Coast Native Indian Art. I don't carve their style out of cultural respect. That's just me. I invented my own design elements. However, as it came together, I have carved a tribute to the peoples of the North Coast.
Raven Stealing the Light
Raven is a figure of enormous cunning, curiosity, trickery and power.

In the beginning, everything is dark. Raven has to walk everywhere, always bumping into things. Raven's cunning and curiosity uncover that all the light is being kept in a box by "The-Old-One-Who-Walks-Everywhere." Raven learns where the box is hidden and steals it.
Carving One: Raven has stolen the box. The 6" ruler shows that this is a model for a larger work. The box is a 23x23x12mm iron pyrite crystal. Ravens glittering eyes are carefully crushed pyrite crystals.
Carving Two: Raven has returned the stars (quartz stones) and the moon (abalone shell) to the black night sky. Raven carries the sun (yellow calcite cabochon) in his beak to the sky above (blank black place at the top). Raven's power is enscribed by the white circle. The great wing primary feathers are above Raven's face ( the eyes are marine mussel shell), the tail is below Raven's beak. The heat of the sun is the flame radiating in all directions. 50x58cm, the beak extends 23cm.
Carving Three: Raven's work is done. In the light of the first day, Raven contemplates his reflection in the water for the very first time. 24"/60cm, abalone shell eyes.

As in other works, I make very simplistic eyes (your head does the rest). I have a single feather design. Simple bodies to accentuate the obvious. Beak+ feathers? Gotta be a bird.