Kwa-Gulth Hawkman

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

Single stylized figure in black with dark red detail; bilaterally symmetrical except for head. Frontal view with profile head, facing right. Head has hooked beak, two curved plumes from top and back of head; circle within circle eye with oval outline in red then black; red mouth with black tongue-like projection extending to hand on right. Arms are bent up with large hands at head level; palms are double ovoids, fingers extended u's. Segmented wing-like projections from hands and upper arms, formed by black ovoids, u's and split-u's with red crosshatched u-shape. Lower arms have split u detail. Upper arms have curved eye-like feature. Body has curved shoulder blade with split u within u's. Legs extend from here and are splayed outward from bent, curved knees. Feet have two claw-like digits. Pencil inscription under right foot reads '82/170 "Kwa-gulth Hawkman" Richard Hunt.' On white paper stock.