Introduction To Northwest Coast Native American Art

I had lived in Vancouver very briefly as a childor carved right into the pieces.
and it was during that time when I was firstThe colors and designs, which might be considered
exposed to the art of the Northwest Coasta bit exaggerated to non-native eyes, were
Native American Indians. It was the toweringstriking as well as bold. I knew at that time that I
colorful totem poles out in Stanley Park thatwanted to include some of this magnificent
everyone gazed at with wonder and appreciation.artwork on my walls back at home. So I bought
It took about 30 years later during a return triptwo plaque carvings and carried them home like
to Vancouver when Northwest Coast Nativenewly found treasure.
American art caught my eyes again.Historically, the native Indians who lived along the
I was in Vancouver for business and landed at theriver valleys and coastal waters of the Pacific
city's new airport terminal. One could not help butNorthwest were all hunters and gatherers. The
notice the huge native carvings near the arrivalsregion was blessed with abundant resources from
area. Later on during my stay, I decided toboth the seas and forests. These people captured
wander around in the Gastown district. It was inin their artwork the animals they hunted and
these shops and galleries in Gastown where I fellobserved. These included bears, killer whales,
in love with Northwest Coast Native American art.eagles, ravens, salmons, wolves, hummingbirds
I saw many wonderful wooden plaquesand even frogs. Chiefs and mythical characters
representing different animals. There were alsoimportant in their legends such as thunderbirds
art prints, paintings, masks, wooden bowls andwere also included as art subjects.
even furnature with these animals either painted