RAVEN'S MOON - Block Mount

RAVEN'S MOON - Block MountEdition Date: December 2013 Artist: Roy Henry Vickers Medium: Block Mount Framed Size: 9" x 13" Story As a young man studying my culture, art, and ancestry, I visited many places, including Skidegate, B. C., where my great grandfather, Amos Collinson, was from. On one of my many visits to Gwaii Hanas I stopped to admire the shark totem carved by one of my mentors, Bill Reid. Over the years the search for my roots has taken me to Bella Bella, Kitkatla,

Story

As a young man studying my culture, art, and ancestry, I visited many places, including Skidegate, B.C., where my great-grandfather, Amos Collinson, was from. On one of my many visits to Gwaii Hanas I stopped to admire the shark totem carved by one of my mentors, Bill Reid.

Over the years the search for my roots has taken me to Bella Bella, Kitkatla, Skidegate, and Massett, and all these coastal villages held a connection to the past. My visits to Gwaii Hanas included fishing trips as well as visits to relatives, and they always left me a deep sense of belonging.

A cousin of mine from Haida Gwaii recently photographed a raven sitting atop the old dogfish totem, which inspired me to create this piece, which I call Raven’s Moon.

Bill Reid carved and raised the dogfish totem in 1978; it was the first to be raised in the village of Skidegate in 100 years!

Today, many totems are being carved and raised; they are a testament to a culture that continues to thrive.

It seems Raven left Gwaii Hanas many years ago in the darkness and brought the daylight ball to the people, and the people continue to bring that light to the world.