Kwaht-Yaht is Born - Limited Edition Print
Kwaht-Yaht is Born - Limited Edition Print
Silkscreen Print
22" x 23"
1989
Edition of 150
“Kwaht-Yaht was one of the legendary heroes of the Nuu-chah-nulth people. This serigraph depicts the birth of this legendary being. In times gone by the world did not have human beings. There were only animals. The Raven was one of these animals that occupied the world before the humans arrived. He (the Raven) grew tired of his playmates and desired someone of a more superior intelligence. In his loneliness, Raven wandered onto the beach, then onto the rocks for a meal of mussels. Feeling more lonely as he ate by himself he started crying. He cried for a long time, until the mucous started running from his nose, then dripping into the mussel shells. One day at low-tide the mussel opened up and there was Kwaht-Yaht stretching and glad to be out of such a cramped situation. He is believed to be the start of the Nuu-chah-nulth people.”
– Art Thompson
Art Thompson
CULTURAL GROUP:
Nuu-chah-nulth (Ditidaht)
BORN:
1948 (d. 2003)
BIRTHPLACE:
Nitinaht Village of Whyac, BC
Art Thompson was largely a self-taught artist, but he did study with Nuu-chah-nulth artists Ron Hamilton and Joe David. From 1978 to 1981, he carved with Duane Pasco. Art studied commercial art at Camosun College in Victoria, BC, as well as at the Vancouver School of Art. He was greatly influenced by artists at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art at 'Ksan in Hazelton, BC. Art produced many works including silkscreen prints, masks, totem poles, jewellery, bentwood boxes, and ceremonial puppets. His media included silver and gold, wood, deer hide, acrylic paint, and pastels. Sea creatures were one of his favourite subjects, and many of his print images were drawn from drum heads. The design Our Beginnings was created as the logo for the 1997 North American Indigenous Games. He is considered to be one of the great Nuu-chah-nulth artists of the 20th century. Art passed away in 2003.
