Mythical Northwest Coast

Andy Warhol's Northwest Coast Mask 1986, based on a mask in the Smithsonian

First Nations art-influenced logo

Thunderbird Totem Pole, Museum of Anthropology, U. of BC

Bill Reid's Raven and First Men 1994, carved from a single 8' wide piece of yellow cedar

Tony Hunt's Raven and Moon

Flavoring Seattle is the subtle but omnipresent influence of the First Nations, or Northwest Coastal Indians; their art, traditions, and history. It is all around us, from the Seattle Seahawks logo to restaurant signs; you’re surprised by the occasional totem pole in a park, and the smell of roasting salmon in cool fall air. This influence gives Seattle a certain mythical power.

A hundred-fifty years ago, the Puget Sound’s waterways were the highways, and inland was locked by giant fir trees growing so close together you couldn’t walk between them. You can glimpse the Puget Sound of a long time ago by reading The Curve of Time by M. Wylie Blanchet.

Or, set foot in the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia in Victoria, B.C., and your skin tingles. Feel the First Nations’ people’s relationship with the universe, their tuned-in view of man in relation to nature. Everyday objects as well as ceremonial treasures honor this sense of (what Jerry Garcia called “The Group Mind”) oneness, in the way they are carved, the mythical creatures they honor, and the connection to the sea and stars.

Bill Reid (1920 – 1998) is probably the most recognizable name in the astounding pool of northwest coastal artists. He’s world famous for carving “Raven and First Men” from one gigantic piece of yellow “nootka” cedar, depicting the Haida creation story, where Raven opens an oyster shell on the beach to find the first Humans.

Tony Hunt is also a world-famous carver and print artist. He was born in 1942 at the Kwakwaka'wakw community of Alert Bay, British Columbia. His brothers, Stanley Hunt and Richard Hunt, are also professional carvers. You can still find their original mask carvings at auctions here and there.

Many northwest homes feature masks, carvings, prints, and totem poles from these and other artists. I think the Seattle Art Museum has the second finest collection of ceremonial masks in the world (second only to the U of BC museum) and it’s a good place to get educated on the subject.

When you’re ready to buy, visit my favorite gallery in the world for collectible First Nations art: Alcheringa Gallery in Victoria, B.C. Or, try going to the source: Duncan, British Columbia. Duncan is the Totem Pole Headquarters of the world, and many carvers sell directly to buyers there. Schedule your own trip on British Columbia Ferries.