Crane, Kwa-Ga-Ne

Northwest Coast print making is a relatively new art form, which began in the late 1940's, but did not develop until the late 1960's. The establishment of the Northwest Coast Indian Artists Guild, in 1977, aided the implementation of standards in limited addition runs and various aspects of quality control. Silk-screen prints have been used to portray traditional and contemporary themes, as well as, to make personal statements. Kwakwaka'wakw artists have, in general, preferred to work with traditional crest designs and mythical themes. More colours are used by Kwakwaka'wakw artists than are used by northern Northwest Coast artists, and the images are composed of many small elements combining into relatively realistic forms.

Nb3.1335 to Nb3.1343 were given to Audrey Hawthorn in 1973. This collection of Henry Speck prints is from an unnumbered collection printed in the 1960's.

contemporary art

Profile view of a crane with outstretched wing, multi-coloured feathers, head, and body. U forms and split u's in various colours are used for feathers as are dash lines on the body. One clawed hind limb is mostly black. On the breast, there0 is a face with a wide red mouth and nostrils. There is another face in the ovoid on the upper part of the spread wing. Long, pointed, light green beak with a red tongue. Black inscription below image. The print is on vertically rectangular, off-white paper.