Otter

Artist/Curatorial Statement

The Spirits of Snow & Ice Collection of ten limited edition serigraphs pays homage to the winter sports that take place in my hometown and all over much of British Columbia. The prints in this series bring together the four worlds present in our First Nations belief structure: the sky world represented by the dawning of a new day; the land world to which all the athletes in these images belong; the sea world evoked through the frozen waves of snow and ice; the spirit world guiding the athletes and giving them the characteristics of our sacred animals. The background image of the animals is done in respect of my Coast Salish ancestry and represents a spindle whorl design. The spindle whorl, I feel, is the perfect metaphor for weaving together our worlds.

Otter
When I think of otters, I think about playful creatures. Moving in and around the water, they do things for pure enjoyment and often for social interaction. Even looking at otters is bound to put a smile on one’s face as they often look like little old men with whiskers. Whether juggling little rocks and pebbles or sliding across the ice or down into streams, a lesson can be learned from otters: in a life that is too often filled with seriousness, there must always be time for play.

There is something enticing about sliding rocks across the ice. It, too, seems like such a playful thing to do. Perhaps that is why curling is so popular amongst all ages. From young girls with ponytails to, yes, little old men with whiskers, curling is an inclusive sport. Whether it’s social interaction in local bonspiels or serious international competition, curling never fails to remind the players that there is always time for a little fun.

Andy Everson

Associated Box Set: Spirits of Snow and Ice Collection Box Set - Edition of 200