$950
Free. SHIPPING TO CANADA AND UNITED STATES ! Lovely Raven Octopus paddle carved in red cedar by 1st Nations artist Jason Titian.Striking blue and black paint with an amazing unique design. It is 48 1/2" in height and 5 1/2" in widthThe abalone inlay adds to this beautiful artwork In some Northwest Coast tribes of British Columbiaand Alaska, the octopus plays a more prominent role as a medicine animal, considered to haveformidable powers over the weather or over sickness and health. (Octopus is often referred to as "Devilfish" in older English translations of Northwest Coast mythology, but that is an old-fashioned English term for the animal, not a literal translation of the Native American name.) Devil-fish are important totem crests of the Northwest Coast, and some tribes, such as the Tlingit and Haida, haveDevilfish clans as subclans of the Raven moiety. Giant octopi appearin some Northwest Coast legends as monsters, too. Myths speak Of giant devilfish monsters that occasionally devour canoes and sometimes even entire villages. Octopus is a powerful potential sea spirit helper, often shown in complex compositions involving other creatures. In some tribal cultures, 8 is considered a magic and auspicious number, which adds to the appeal and power of Octopus. Octopus is a servant of Kumugwe’, chief of the undersea world, and is also a symbol of great wealth in Kwakwaka’wakw mythology.******************************************************************************************** Jason Titian: Born and raised in Port Alberni in 1974, Jason Titian is a member of the Ahousat 1st Nation. He showed an interest in art at an early age, and 1 of his 1st teachers was Ron Hamilton, well known Nuu-chah-nulth ethnographer and artist. In 2001 Titian approached Tsimshian/Nuu-chah-nulth artist Ray Sim Sr. and asked him to be his teacher. Sim, who had trained at the Kitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art (K’san), taught him the principles of formline – the primary design element of Northwest coast art. To this day, Titian still considers Sim his primary teacher and his mentor. In 2006 Jason Titian studied for 1yr with Morris “Moy” Sutherland, who encouraged the young artist to expand his knowledge of Nuu-chah-nulth traditional art. Other well known artists who have influenced Titian are Joe David and Robert Davidson. Titian is part of the younger generation of Nuu-chah-nulth artists who follow in the footsteps of great names such as the late Art Thompson, and Tom Paul, who studied with his father Tim Paul. But beyond the telling of well known stories, Titian aspires to new interpretations of the older artistic traditions.The culture and traditional values of his Native heritage were an important part of Jason Titian’s upbringing, and they continue to play an important role in his life. Through the materials provided to him by the natural world, he gives expression to those values, and his artistic achievements are a statement of his 1st Nations identity. All other countries please contact me for shipping and handling fees.
