Name/Title
Kwakiutl Raven PaddleEntry/Object ID
2023.09.03Description
Sculpture
Hand-carved and painted sculptural wooden paddle with a raven design in black, blue and red acrylic, and copper, abalone and mother of pearl detailing, commissioned by the Union Club of B.C.
The raven paddle is done in 'formline', a Pacific Northwest Coast First Nations art form distinguished by the use of characteristic shapes, such as ovoids, U forms and trigons used for figure outlines, design elements and composition. This First Nations art system is unique in that it is based on a structured and traditional set of rules and principles that govern how a design is organized and presented. However, regional characteristics reflecting variances in composition, complexity and colour have evolved over time.Type of Sculpture
Free StandingArtwork Details
Medium
Paint on yellow cedarSubject
The raven, considered to be the creator's assistant or helper, is one of the most important mythological symbols of creation, transformation, knowledge and prestige for many Pacific Northwest Coast First Nations peoples. For some, he also symbolizes the complexity of nature and the subtlety of truth. Curious and playful, the raven also is viewed as a trickster, and it is said that he could transform himself into anything. He was responsible for supplying the rivers and seas with fish as well as putting the sun into the sky. The raven is also known as the “keeper of secrets” and a healer.Subject Place
Region
Pacific NorthwestContinent
North AmericaContext
This is one of four First Nations paddles, specially commissioned by the Union Club in 2022, intended to increase representation and visibility of the art and culture of the principal First Nations of Vancouver Island, B.C. - Coast Salish, Kwakwaka'wakw and Nuuchahnulth (southeast, northwest and northeast). Each paddle reflects different riches from our natural environment and was designed and created by a different First Nations artist. Each paddle also pays homage to centuries of ancestral heritage while also nourishing the role this heritage plays today. The paddles were formally unveiled at the Club on September 21, 2023 prior to Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.
Paddles are, of course, utilitarian objects used to propel an individual forward but also highly symbolic in that, as we paddle together, we advance our community forward as part of a larger journey. Crafted in yellow cedar in varied colours, some enhanced with copper, shell and other materials, these paddles have been created with great attention to detail and powerful imagery.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Trevor Cole Hunt ("T'łalis")Role
ArtistDate made
2023Time Period
21st CenturyNotes
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Born in Victoria, B.C., Trevor Cole Hunt is a member of one of the first families of Pacific Northwest Coast carving originating on Vancouver Island, B.C. Hunt comes from a long line of hereditary carvers and artists that have been instrumental in the survival of the Kwaguilth/Kwakiutl (now Kwakwaka'wakw*) art form. His father is Stanley Clifford Hunt, his grandfather was Henry Hunt (1923-1985) and his great-grandfather was Chief Mungo Martin (1879-1962). Both his father and grandfather held the title of master carver at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria. His uncles, Tony and Richard Hunt, as well as his brother Jason, are also recognized as leading Kwakiutl artists.
At the age of ten, Hunt began creating and selling original paintings before learning the varied skills of carving from his elders. The artist has been carving ever since and he has created a large body of work ranging from panels and totem poles, to prints. In fact, Hunt has released an original print annually since 1993, when he completed his first set of prints. Hunt continues to innovate without a loss of traditional form and has most recently done so by creating sandblasted cedar panels. He aims to share his love for his culture with youth and does so by teaching the children of Waggles School in Fort Rupert and Fort Rupert Elementary. He prides himself on carving in the traditional form while using his own style, which gives his art a unique touch. He has traveled in Canada and beyond for art shows and demonstrations and his works have been collected widely.
*The Kwagiulth or Kwakiutl First Nations traditional territory is on north eastern Vancouver Island, nearby smaller islands including the Discovery Islands, and the adjacent B.C. coastal mainland. In the 1980s, the Kwakiutl officially changed their name to Kwakwaka'wakw, meaning “Kwak'wala speaking tribes”, though the two names are used interchangeably by scholars and some bands. The name Kwakiutl specifically only refers to those from the village of Fort Rupert.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
SignatureLocation
Verso paddleDimensions
Width
15.24 cmDepth
3.18 cmLength
158.75 cmAcquisition
Acquisition Method
PurchaseDate
2023Relationships
Related Entries
Notes
2023.09.02 Orca Paddle by Chazz Elliott ("Temoseng" aka Charles Elliott Jr.)
2023.09.03 Kwakiutl Raven Paddle by Trevor Cole Hunt ("T'łalis")
2023.09.04 Close Perspectives Paddle by Angela Marston ("Satuts Stsuhwum")
2023.09.05 Wolf Paddle by Moy Sutherland ("Hiish-miik" and "Chioton" aka Morris Sutherland Jr.)
