Beaver Manda and Totem

It was cool and cloudy today so I went to the Museum of Civilization to sketch.  This pair of contemporary and traditional beavers are in the Great Hall.   I think of beavers as frantic little engineers, but these fierce creatures, without a doubt, must be warriors.

The Beaver Manda in the foreground was carved by the Haida artist, Jim Hart, in 1995. Jim Hart apprenticed with the incredible Haida sculptor Bill Reid and also made the Three Watchmen, which I posted a sketch of, back in December.  I understand a manda was usually symbolic of one of the clans and might grace a trading box or grave.  This contemporary interpretation is about 2.4m long and unlike traditional poles, is horizontal and three dimensional.   It is carved from one enormous piece of  cedar and reminds me of a sphinx poised to spring into life.

Behind is the Beaver Totem, with a stick in it's mouth, which was probably made about a century earlier as a Haida Chief's house post (interior support).

More Totem Poles

I did'nt manage to get out skiing today, but did find time to stop into the Canadian Museum of Civilization.  The totem poles in the Great hall continue to fascinate me and its a pleasant and calming place to spend a few minutes.

Clan Crest Poles

These are  Family Crest poles which represent the clans of the owners.  The one on the left is a White Squirrel, and on the right is a Kwaxsuu Pole form around 1870 which signifies a Chief of Wolf Clan lineage.

Great Hall - Canadian Museum of Civilization

Winter in Canada is not conducive to drawing outdoors, so I headed to the Canadian Museum of Civilization.  There is so much there to draw that I didn't even get past the Great Hall, which is a display of mid 19th century native longhouses and totem poles.