Sisiutl and Thunderbird

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

Bilaterally symmetrical, stylized design with two headed bird above double headed serpent. Bird has segmented, sweeping wings in variously coloured u's, split u's and circles at top; profile heads have curved beak, red outlined mouth and red tongue below row of four flat teeth; circle within circle black and white eye in oval all surrounded by green. Large frontal face at centre of bird has red tongue protruding below row of white teeth, round white nostrils in red nose, turned down oval eyes with round black centres. Birds hind limbs are bent out to either side of tail below face, ending in orange and black claws. Serpent across bottom has central frontal face with oval, turned down eyes with black, round centres, surrounded with green. Red mouth and nose with circular white and black nostrils and split u teeth rows. Serpent heads at sides are profile, turned in to centre; eyes as bird, long red curling tongues protrude from red mouth between teeth rows. Red outlined oval nose. Curling crest on top of head. Heads are connected to centre by a double band, top band is segments of black u's with four white u's in each. The lower band is red, green and black with a three clawed paw-like feature with a circle within circle palm. Below image is pencil inscription reading: "68/175 Sisiutl & Thunderbird Eugene B. Isaac."