‘namaxsala (2013 | Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, Québec)

From the Museum of History:
 
‘namaxsala is inspired by a story told to the artist, Mary Anne Barkhouse, by her grandfather Fred Cook. In the story, her grandfather helps a wolf cross a treacherous piece of water in a boat, on the West coast of Canada. “My grandfather’s stories always offered an alternative view for considering the world around me,” the artist remembers. “And so, I relate one of them here, to help negotiate cooperation with the ‘other’ and inclusion of the wild.”
 
‘namaxsala reflects on human relationships with the natural world. The choice of copper and bronze speaks simultaneously to Kwakwaka’wakw tradition and contemporary ingenuity. The sculpture also connects with the totem poles and houses installed in the Grand Hall of the Museum.
 
More information on the Museum of History website.
 
(IMAGES: Courtesy of Museum of Civilization | Mary Anne Barkhouse)