-40%
Gitxsan 'Weget and the Swans' Ken Mowatt Northwest Coast Native Sculpture Art
$ 2376
- Description
- Size Guide
Description
This red cedar and birch sculpture has been created by acclaimed Northwest Coast Native American First Nations artist,Ken Mowatt
. Reflecting Ken's reputation as one of the most progressive and experimental Northwest Coast Native artists working today, this piece is unconventional in its execution, materials, and formline design. It is not, however, unconventional in its subject matter, as it represents one of the Gitxsan Nation's oldest myths,
Weget (Raven) and the Swans
. Measuring
9" x 11" x 11"
and composed of a pierced
bentwood cedar box
with a
birch mask
, this piece looks completely different from every angle. It is a complex piece that is best deconstructed by reading the myth...
This is the myth of
Weget and the Swans
as told by Ken Mowatt himself:
"
Weget, in his wanderings, came upon a village near a large lake. As he approached, he let his presence be known by singing his humbling song, “Hey, hey, hey! It is only I, a poor hungry man, travelling through this great land. Hey, hey, hey!” After a lot of posturing, Weget convinced the Chief of the village that he was simply a wanderer and that he would not be a threat to the village. The Chief of this village did not know that Weget was also Raven, the trickster, and he was not simply there for a friendly visit.
Weget was a great dancer and singer, and he used these talents to win the trust of his host. Weget was bestowed appreciative gifts and food (if Weget had a weakness, it was his insatiable appetite), and as is customary, the host fed his guest until he was full. Weget, knowing this and wanting to know where the delicious food came from, continued to eat and eat. In the early morning, after a night of feasting, the host informed Weget that he was out of food and that he would have to get a new supply.
The hunters of the village, along with Weget who was allowed to observe the hunt, left for the far side of the lake where the swans lived. Weget watched as each hunter, wearing a swan decoy on his head, quietly slipped into the water. A hunter, isolating one of the large birds, would then gently slip a rope on its foot. The swan, thinking the rope was only a strand from a weed, did not feel threatened. So when the swan submerged its head to dislodge the apparent weed, the hunter would quickly pull the bird under and take it toward the shore, away from the rest of the birds.
Weget, seeing how seemingly simple it was to capture the big birds, became very excited and persuaded the hunters to let him try his luck. The reluctant hunters prepared Weget for his attempt and cautioned him to be calm, patient, and to take only one bird at a time. Weget slid into the water and swam toward the swans underwater. As he approached, he saw hundreds of webbed feet moving about. Weget became overwhelmed and quickly forgot the instructions that he was given. He greedily tied as many feet as he could before the swans were aware of his deed.
Like one giant bird, the swans raised to the sky in unison and Weget, helplessly entangled, was thrust from the quiet of the water to the drone of curses of the swans saying “Who is it that don’t know you, Weget? Who is it that don’t know you?” The swans carried Weget a safe distance from their habitat and dropped him to the ground. Weget was so preoccupied in his predicament that he didn’t realize that he had been released until he hit the ground, face down, and became wedged between two rocks.
Weget found himself bound to the earth and had a tiny thought of his responsibilities to the Mother Earth and what he might do to make his journey good for everyone. It was then that a little animal came and asked, “Who are you and why are you hiding amongst the rocks?” Weget answered by singing a humbling song, “Hey, hey, hey…” And there is a rock in Gitxsan territory that still displays the impression of Weget's face!
"
Ken Mowatt's crest is Frog. He works in diverse art forms including: limited edition prints, original paintings in oils, drums, and the carving of jewellery and cedar poles, masks, rattles, sculptures. He is a master carver who began his career at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Design in 1970 where he also taught. He also studied jewellery making with Jack Leyland in 1975, and watercolour painting with Ron Burleigh in 1978. In 2004, Ken was asked to illustrate the children’s book ‘Returning the Feathers’, which is based on five famous Gitksan legends. Ken also provided the design for the ‘Weget Legends’ publication. Ken has years of formal training in traditional Gitksan art, but he is known as one of the most creative and experimental First Nations artists working today. He has also taught many younger artists from the Hazelton area of British Columbia, including Chuck Yaya Heit and Chester Patrick. Many of his works contain surreal and abstract elements, and his impressive attention to detail is incredibly distinctive.
Keywords: "Haida Mask", "Robert Davidson", "Bill Reid", "Norval Morrisseau", "Alex Janvier", "Brian Jungen masks", "swan sculpture", "raven mask"