Through the Smoke Hole Item Number: Nb7.286 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Silkscreen print. Head and upper wings of stylized naturalistic bird emerging from an off-centred blue diamond. Slightly bent white head outlined in black, eye area and portions of beak are highlighted in black; beak placed against throat; u-like shaped black wings are outlined in white, wing on right partially obscures head, top of wing on left held away from head, also tip partially obscures beak. At lower side on left of diamond "through the smoke hole"; at lower side on right, "PJanze 81 136/225."

Narrative

Raven, the main character in Northwest Coast mythology, is credited with bringing light to the world. Raven, having discovered that the great chief in the skies owned the sun, made a plan to steal it. Transformed into a cedar leaf, raven was swallowed by the great chief's daughter. Soon after she gave birth to a son. The boy grew quickly, and since he was the great chief's grandson, was allowed to play with the sun, which was kept out of reach in a box. One day while playing with the sun, raven transformed back to bird form and flew out of the smoke hole, thus bringing the sun to the world.

Cultural Context

contemporary art

Item History

What

Name
Through the Smoke Hole
Identification Number
Nb7.286
Type of Item
print
Manufacturing Technique
silkscreened and printed
Overall
height 38.7 cm, width 46.9 cm

Who

Culture
Gitxsan
Creator
Philip Janze (Maker)
Previous Owner
Museum of Anthropology Shop
Received from
Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and Museum of Anthropology Shop (Seller)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
during 1981
Ownership Date
before February 20, 1985
Acquisition Date
on February 20, 1985

Other

Item Classes
works on paper
Condition
good
Accession Number
1031/0001