Only a few days left before the pole is raised.
The official ceremony will be on June 11th, 2015.
Quite a bit has happened since the last update. Low man on the totem pole wins. Both carvers, Qwaya Sam and Noel Brown were awarded the top parts of their respective poles. Sort of make sense to me to keep the style the same throughout the whole length of the art piece. Unity.
My masks and carving are on display for a few more days at the McMillan Arts Centre.
http://mcmillanartscentre.com/march-exhibits-mac/
http://www.pqbnews.com/community/295195161.html
Texture and details at the MAC
http://www.pqbnews.com/entertainment/296586661.html
Only four days left before the show is taken down. But in case you can’t make it, here are a few photos. Thanks for your support. See you next time!

It has been a while brewing in the back of my mind to carve a huge raven. Strayed from the traditional, to make it my own. Years in the making. The first months of the project can be viewed on another post.
November 2011 to February 2015
2013 October
2013 November
Poor bugger looks fairly battered. Tough life.
2015 February
Never thought I would end up doing rug-hooking! Tried horse tail hair, yak fur, mountain goat fur. None provided the punky “Bad Ass” style I was looking for. I’ll be playing with that needle and raffia for a few more weeks (months).
It took as many hours to do the hair as it did the Raven.
The Bad Ass Raven, as well as other masks, will be on display at the McMillan Arts Center from March 3, 2015 to March 28th. http://mcmillanartscentre.com/march-exhibits-mac/
The Opening Reception is on Saturday, March 7th from 1:00 – 3:30 pm.
Hope to see you there.
Fortunate enough to have met Qwaya Sam at the Carving on the Edge Festival. He invited me to see his carving of a totem pole at VIU (Vancouver Island University). I asked if he needed help. He invited me to carve with him. Ecstatic!
Two poles, four carvers. South pole: Qwaya Sam and George Hunt Jr. North pole: Noel Brown and Thomas Jones.
My Stories Now
Born with a blank slate, it took me a while to have something pertinent to say. The right medium to express it. And the mastered technique. These you will find nowhere else, as they are solidly, my stories, the people I have met, the experiences I have lived. Some of these you may want to attach your own interpretations, that would be excellent. Many other masks, in the First Nations style, were carved in previous years, see blog post, Apprenticeship Years and Wandering Explorations.
Wandering Explorations
Going back in time. Straying from the Master’s narrow trails. Finding off spurs to explore. Somewhat similar in style. An eagerness to go beyond. Overlapping bands of time and carving styles.