Native Orca Plaque Yellow Cedar 14" Tall Signed New

Description

Deeply carved and quintessentially West Coast, this yellow cedar wall carving measures approximately 14" tall. Created by Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations artist Gino Seward, each piece is
made-to-order
and will take 2-3 weeks to complete. Please note that each piece is handmade and will differ slightly from the image.
The Killerwhale, also known as the Orca, is a primary crest within many Northwest Coast Native cultures. The Killerwhale can also be found along the west coast of North America throughout the year. Killerwhale clans connect themselves to the sea, where their ancestors are said to have once lived at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. There are many legends that tell of Killerwhales tipping canoes and bringing the occupants to their villages at the bottom of the ocean, and of whales guiding people to safety when they are caught on the water. All along the coast, fishers and hunters often apply Killerwhale designs to their canoes and paraphernalia. These depictions often include human elements, such as a human face in the blowhole or tail flukes. The human elements within these depictions may represent the artist, the artist’s connection to their clan, or an image of transformation. Generally,
Killerwhales symbolize longevity, communication and strength
within Northwest Coast art and culture.
Gino was born in 1972 in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island. His father was Coast Salish and his mother is of the Kwakiutl Nation. Gino became involved in art at age 11 and was taught by his Salish grandfather and by the Kwakiutl master carvers Jackson Robertson and William Robertson. Gino's favourite subjects are animal wall plaques, free standing carvings, and totems carved from red and yellow cedar. Today he himself is considered an established carver and has two young apprentices, Bubby Pugles and Sammy Seward, who are keen to preserve the artistic traditions of their ancestors.
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