Celebrating the Northwest Coast's Visionary Artist, Art Thompson
His art uses traditional designs with modern influences
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Art Thompson was a renowned First Nations artist from the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation, born in 1948 in Whyac, British Columbia.
He's celebrated for his innovative and distinctive interpretation of Nuu-chah-nulth design, which blends traditional and modern techniques.
Thompson's artwork includes silkscreen prints, masks, totem poles, jewelry, and ceremonial puppets, often featuring sea creatures and other wildlife.
Because of a fond memory of my Grandmother, teaching me about the language of crows/ravens and Mom, teaching me the language of dreams, just kinda struck me, hope you're not offended, that the Pagan Latvian culture (funny how bone marrow/bone hold ancestral memory) that many nature caring/reciprocating cultures exhibit the same tendencies.
Only found my first spirit animal (Bear) thru the careful questioning of an Elder Hunter of the Cree sense of humour – often said, "What are you doing teaching? You should be leaning to talk to trees, to animals."
Me, being a youg'un, full of piss&vinegar, inwardly scowled. But the moment he mentioned dreaming of Bear, i remembered same, when younger. Took a bit of wind out of my stubbornness but i knew (how, no clue then) immediately the Man had a point.
Many years later, i talk trees, animals & they talk back, sometimes warning, sometimes foretelling different moments of future events.
Left teaching 20 years later. Thanks to Elder – long story there. The ending may blow you away or you being into art probably not.
Finally, don't get me wrong, i never said, nor will i ever say, the Latvian internal experience is the same as the First Nations one, not possible, but the similarities certainly find me unprepared for how to express self.
to complicate matters even further, 2 (two) years of Lutheran catechism class, cured me of Christianity, and decided to walk the path of Buddha. Great choice. Opened up many more avenues leading to emptiness/abyss of . . . that which can be experienced/seen but never understood . . . when asked, "What did you experience?" i stand aghast/agape. Can't speak.
Can reply in chat to my previous note.