WOLF DANCE TO THE MOON
ACRYLICS ON CEDAR W/RED OAK FRAME
FALL 2023

     As night approaches, the gray sky, made darker by a light rainfall, brightens considerably as the crescent moon emerges from behind the clouds.  Meanwhile, within the longhouse below, the three dancers begin to swirl about the dance floor.  The light and shadow created by the fire on their wolf masks blur the boundaries between reality and fantasy. Having the opportunity to witness masked dancers, bare feet on hard-packed earthen floor, dancing in a traditional longhouse illuminated only by the light of a fire, is something truly memorable.  I was gifted this opportunity back in 2010 and it has made a lasting impression on me, leaving an indelible image in my mind to this day.  That reoccurring image inspired me to create this painting of blue-gray woodsmoke rising from fire in the form of three wolf dancers.  The designs for the wolves were strongly influenced by the Celtic and Northwest Coast Native art traditions. Designs of lions from The Book of Kells were especially helpful. 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:          HEIGHTl  22 inches
                                  WIDTH:  14 ½ inches

                                                                   PRICE $500

​​Gary Giovane
La Conner, WA
[email protected]