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The ERF 2003 Conference Poster Moon Catchers: Artist Marvin Oliver Captures the Spirit of the Pacific Northwest

Joy Bartholomew
jbarth@erf.org

We are grateful to artist Marvin Oliver for the use of his image, entitled Moon Catchers, as the central element of our conference poster. Whether or not you are familiar with the striking images in the art of the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest, no doubt you have been impressed with this beautiful image.

Marvin Oliver is an internationally acclaimed contemporary sculptor and one of the Pacific Northwest's foremost printmakers. He descends from the Quinault and Isleta-Pueblo tribes. He uses their traditional visual forms and creates new interpretations of traditional images in wood, glass and steel sculptures, prints, masks, wooden panels, jewelry and helmets.

The Moon Catchers image is a serigraph that Mr. Oliver created in 1995. The description from his web site describes the image as follows: The Eagle (depicted in the waves) and the Raven (embellishing the dorsal fin) are catching the moon while riding on the back of the Whale.

Mr. Oliver's work can be seen in galleries in Seattle and Alaska. He is an associate professor at the University of Washington (UW) in American Indian Studies/Art History and Curator of Contemporary Native American Art at the UW's Burke Museum. He also serves on the faculty at the University of Alaska, Ketchikan campus. To see more of Mr. Oliver's work, visit his web site at www.marvinoliver.com.

Traditions of Pacific Northwest Coast Art
Elegant and simple visual elements characterize the art of the tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Perhaps the best-known art form of this tradition is the totem pole, a tall wood sculpture that flanked the doorways of the large wooden lodges and guarded other areas of special significance. The animal images seen on totem poles were also used on other objects made of wood, stone, fabric and fiber. Contemporary artists working in this tradition employ all these media and metal, glass and paper/printmaking.

A rich mythology underlies the images. The animals depicted represent clans and families and the special characteristics of the individual animals: the strength of the bear, the cleverness of the fox.

The Seattle Art Museum in downtown Seattle has a wonderful collection of Pacific Northwest coast. It is within walking distance of our conference venue, as are numerous shops that display the works of contemporary Native American artists.

Legend of Raven as Moon Catcher
Raven has a special place in the tradition of the Northwest Coast peoples. Raven is a transformer, able to shift his shape from a bird at will. He is full of magical powers and created the world, put the fish in the sea, the stars in the sky and gave the people fire, water and the tides.

Many stories are told about Raven's role as creator and trickster. Raven is often depicted with a shiny orb in his beak, representing the moon, as he is on our conference poster.
The following story is my interpretation of some versions I have read. It is offered here with respect to its originators and to enrich our appreciation of the beautiful images on the conference poster.

Before Time began, the world was dark. The moon was kept hidden in a beautiful carved chest by the Old Man of the North. When Raven saw the Old Man's daughter gathering berries he turned himself into a leaf. She picked and ate that leaf and became pregnant. When she delivered a son, he had dark hair and a hooked nose.

When he became older he cried and cried for a chance to play with the moon tucked away in the Old Man's box. He made such a pest of himself that his wish was granted and he was given the moon as a plaything.
Later the little boy who was Raven begged for the smoke hole of the Old Man's lodge to be opened so that he could see the starry sky. When this wish was granted he changed back into Raven and flew out of the smoke hole with the moon in his beak. He flew to the highest mountain and hurled the moon into the sky, giving us the moon and tides.

More information about these subjects is available in the following publications:
¨ Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast by Hilary Stewart.
¨ North American Indian Mythology by Cottie Burland
¨ Solitary Raven by Bill Reid