Thunderbird and Whale

Northwest Coast serigraphs are a contemporary art form, deriving from early 20th century drawings of traditional crest and decorative designs, commissioned by anthropologists and undertaken by artists such as Charles Edenshaw. Residential schools reinforced the medium, while discouraging the use of traditional themes. An important series of traditional designs in coloured pencil and watercolour were done by Mungo Martin for UBC in 1949-50. The 1960's saw the rapid growth of prints, first in unlimited poster editions, and later with the establishment of the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art at 'Ksan (1967), and of the Northwest Coast Indian Artists Guild (1977), limited edition art runs became the standard. Northwest Coast silkscreen prints are part of the mainstream art market, as well as, functioning within the native context as potlatch gifts, and commemorative prints. Although, there are distinctive regional styles, individual artists may work in several styles, or apply unique themes and variations to specific works.

contemporary art

A main design consisting of two separate stylized figures. Figure above is a bird in black with red and blue detail and the wings spreading in an upward curve. Bird's profile head is facing to the right side with a curled beaked and blue around the black circle within the oval eye. Red split u in u form ear with u form appendage. Wings have four projections on each side with red split u's at top and thin blue lines between. Serpent-like figures form the top of the wings with the face at the 'shoulder' and curled tail to the outsides. Hind limbs are bent and at the side of the body with hand-like appendages. Oval body with red curled up figure at centre. Three tail u's to the bottom. Bottom figure is a profile whale with its head to the right side and ah wide bright blue band across the centre. Round eye shape with split u's down the fin. Top band has a sharp angled hole to the left of the eye, and ending in a paddle-like tail with black detail. Under side of whale is red-orange with even teeth row outlined in black on the right and black details on the left. Pencil inscription along the bottom edge reads '89/100 Thunderbird and Whale AThompson 1/78'. There is an embossed stamp at the bottom right that reads 'Open Pacific Graphics'. The print is on a horizontally rectangular, light white-brown paper piece.