Serigraph: Ink on Paper
The First Carver
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Artist/Curatorial Statement
Carvers are important members of their communities and hold special status. Typically a chief would hire carvers to have his family crests or events recorded in wood. Like the Beaver, Woodpecker is a carver spirit. One day a Salish village was raided by a Northern tribe. Among the numerous things stolen was Woodpecker’s wife. He was so devastated that he went to the forest where he wanted to die. As he prayed, the Creator told him how he would get his wife back. He gave Woodpecker the knowledge of canoe making and the bird began to carve. This canoe turned out to be magical and could travel extremely fast. Woodpecker went down the river in this magical boat, retrieved his wife and happily retreated to his home village. In times of desperation we turn to prayer and the Creator listens.
Stan Greene
Exhibition(s): Record, (Re)create: Contemporary Coast Salish Art from the Salish Weave Collection
Legacy: National Gallery of Canada