Yellow cedar Whale House Clan Crest Panel, Kolten Khasalus Grant

• Nation: Kwakwaka' wakw art, Kwakiutl art, native artists Vancouver Island
• Artist: Grant, Kolten Khasalus
• Type: Wall panels and wall plaques

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What a fantastic piece of true Indigenous art, hand carved, hand painted, designed and signed by Kolten Khasalus Grant from the house of Lilawagila from Gwa'yi (Kingcome Inlet)

Killer Whale, Sagadino (Chief of the Undersea kingdom) and Frog clan Motif

Beautiful old growth yellow cedar, very vibrant colors. The cedar is hollowed out from a 2 1/2" thick piece of wood. The details are just so incredible, the carving and painting masterfully done - Kolten always pays so much attention do details, it truly is close to perfection. The rim is painted in soft green, again, leaving a pinstripe to show off the beautiful wood and just gives it the little "extra". Very deep and clean carving lines and as always, it does tell a story. I'll let Kolten tell the story of this beautiful piece himself:

In the artists own words: 

"This contemporary ceremonial box design was inspired by many of the ancient Tlingit boxes I have studied over the years in numerous museums around the world and books curators and collectors have created. I chose to use colours that I love to work with and that represent the northwest coast so well. They are also very great colours to compliment the natural golden colour of this old growth yellow cedar. The main design of the panel is of a whale looking directly with the dorsal fin facing up and the pectoral fins on the sides. I put eyes into the pectoral fins to represent the ancestors of my whale house family seeing through witnessing what I have created with positivity and love. The two designs in the top right corners represent Sagadino the chief of the undersea kingdom in Tlingit. Bringer of wealth and chief of all beings from beneath the ocean and bringer of all wealth of prosperity it provides us. This is to honour my ancestor from the realm beneath the ocean. I chose to use the designs in the centre that represent claws to fill the space with the proper flow required of this complicated form-line, and they also represent the house carrying the rights to the frog clan crest through a ancient marriage and honouring the rights my family carries. The design within the centre is the frog in which the whale is carrying. It is facing upside down to represent the ability to go beneath the ocean and above. Going through many dimensions including the spirit world being a key messenger for our people. For the top centre of this panel I chose to use a design that is very similar to ovaries. I enjoy using the design because of the flow and intricacy but it also honours all women, all while bringing feminine energy to a very masculine design bringing balance to the energy of the sculpture".

Measurements: 22 1/2" wide, 12 1/2" high, 2 1/2" deep

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Photos of This Piece

About This Artist

Kolten Khasalus Grant was born in 1992 and raised on the Capilano reserve in North Vancouver (Xwemélch'stn) with relations to the Baker family. Khasalus or Kasa'las means "Walking tall” in Kwakwakawakw, Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw,...Artist bio and other available works »