| I had lived in Vancouver very briefly as a child | | | | or carved right into the pieces. |
| and it was during that time when I was first | | | | The colors and designs, which might be considered |
| exposed to the art of the Northwest Coast | | | | a bit exaggerated to non-native eyes, were |
| Native American Indians. It was the towering | | | | striking as well as bold. I knew at that time that I |
| colorful totem poles out in Stanley Park that | | | | wanted 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 trip | | | | two plaque carvings and carried them home like |
| to Vancouver when Northwest Coast Native | | | | newly 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 the | | | | river valleys and coastal waters of the Pacific |
| city's new airport terminal. One could not help but | | | | Northwest were all hunters and gatherers. The |
| notice the huge native carvings near the arrivals | | | | region was blessed with abundant resources from |
| area. Later on during my stay, I decided to | | | | both the seas and forests. These people captured |
| wander around in the Gastown district. It was in | | | | in their artwork the animals they hunted and |
| these shops and galleries in Gastown where I fell | | | | observed. These included bears, killer whales, |
| in love with Northwest Coast Native American art. | | | | eagles, ravens, salmons, wolves, hummingbirds |
| I saw many wonderful wooden plaques | | | | and even frogs. Chiefs and mythical characters |
| representing different animals. There were also | | | | important in their legends such as thunderbirds |
| art prints, paintings, masks, wooden bowls and | | | | were also included as art subjects. |
| even furnature with these animals either painted | | | | |