Douglas Fir Stump = Totem Pole
Whidbey Island, Washingtonwww.groeschen.com
Who
needs to climb Mt. Everest when I can carve a totem pole in the rainy,
rainy, rain on scaffolding. The first week rain day after rain
day... the
hat at the top of the totem, the rain hat, took on new meaning...I
understood what it means to have a good rain hat.
But, really, they're not rain hats...the rings represents
potlaches. I added the top part of the hat, 2ft. Thus
making the totem 14' tall by 2' wide. Then there is the raven,
with orcas on the wings, and a touch of owl and the bear. The 2nd week bright and sunny. Things dried out enough for me to paint.
copyright: jessie groeschen 2006
FROM THE CARVINGPOST
Awsome work, you're right on the heels of the late Mungo Martin, and the contemprary Robert Davidson.THe hats at the top of the pole in the North West were the symbol of the King. how many rings depicted many things such as lineage, and trade rights.This being the case I like the way you stuck to the West Coast Salich style of hat.There are many ways in which the raven (transformer, who stole the moon from the sun), and the bear, (symbol of nurturing, and provision, or earth). I've studied the North West coast art for a while, and it's very nice to see the path you are taking. As long as I've followed the art form, I'm amazed to see the work you are doing. Your kingdom hat has many rings already.
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Get it, girl! Really nice totem!
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