OCEAN PEOPLE
ACRYLICS ON RED CEDAR w/RED OAK FRAME
SUMMER 2023
     The plight of Puget Sound’s Southern Resident Orcas has been well documented ever since they were identified as an endangered species in 2005.  Their population was reduced between 1965 to 1975 due to many individuals captured for marine parks.  Currently the population continues to be under stress due to persistent organic pollutants, noise disturbances from vessels, and the reduction of prey species.  Southern Resident Orcas feed almost entirely on fish, especially Chinook salmon.  It will take great effort and cooperation on all of our parts to protect these iconic marine mammals.  In support, my painting shows three Southern Resident Orcas, one male and two females, as they ply the waters of Puget Sound.  The painting displays my fusion of three distinct cultural/art traditions:  Northwest Coast Native, Celtic, and Japanese.  The first tradition involves the formlines which create the structure of the orcas.  My formlines were inspired by the works of Master Haida artist Robert Davidson.  The second cultural component of my fusion style incorporates design elements from the rich Celtic art tradition, specifically seen in the interior regions of the large male orca.  The Book of Kells and the Celtic Revival entrelac of Manx designer Archibald Knox were the inspiration for these designs.  The third component of my style is the compositional influences and design elements of Japanese arts and crafts.  I was inspired by the water design of Utamaro Kuniyoshi’s  woodblock triptych “Miyamoto Musashi Subduing the Whale” as I designed my waves.  Finally, in the Arts & Crafts tradition, I made the frame for this painting out of red oak using pegged, hand-joined, mortise-and-tenon construction methods.   I used the Japanese technique (shou-sugi-ban) of charring and oiling the oak to finish the frame. 
 
DIMENSIONS:          HEIGHT:  25 ½ inches
                                  WIDTH:   41 inches

                                                                   SOLD
Picture
Robert Davidson Fisherman's Delight
Picture
archibald knox shallow pewter bowl with entrelac design
Picture
utagawa kuniyoshi triptych Miyamoto Musashi Subduing the Whale
Gary Giovane
La Conner, WA
gioart13@yahoo.com