Drawing Item Number: Nb3.1428 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Three drawings glued to red cardboard. Drawing on the left has two profile creatures, top one of which is a seal ?, facing left with a face on the back in pencil with red details including petal-like protrusions all around. Bottom is a line drawn whale surrounded by row of u forms on top and split u's below. Pencil inscription at the bottom right reads 'Maurice age - 8' with 'M. Wadhams' printed below in ink. Drawing at the top right is of a whale facing to the right side. Three rows of blue dots extend out of the spout. There is a small whale figure behind the dorsal fin. Design elements are variously coloured in orange, pink, red, purple, and brown. In red, 'killer Whale' is written in an image below outlined by a scroll. At the bottom right, there reads 'by Simon Charlie age - 13'. Drawing at the bottom right has a whale-like head at the top, a second head below and to the right with four segmented appendages to the left. Similar colouring as the picture above it. Below, there reads 'Octopus by Simon Charlie age - 13'. Covered with clear plastic.

Cultural Context

student art

Narrative

From a collection of Northwest Coast inspired artwork produced by First Nations children at the Alert Bay Residential School during the 1968 to 1969 school year. The works were also part of an exhibition of student drawings, displayed at the Charles Sanderson Library in Toronto during 1970. They were also featured briefly by one of the local television stations. Residential schools were operated by religious organizations and followed the regular provincial curriculum. The Alert Bay Residential School was operated by the Anglican Church of Canada. According to the Van Drielens, art was discouraged at the School because 'they couldn't make a living at it'.

Item History

What

Name
Drawing
Identification Number
Nb3.1428
Type of Item
drawing
Overall
height 56.0 cm, width 71.3 cm, depth 0.2 cm

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Creator
Maurice Wadhams (Maker) and Simon Charlie (Maker)
Previous Owner
Ralph Van Drielen and Enid Van Drielen
Received from
Enid Van Drielen (Donor) and Ralph Van Drielen (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
'Yalis (Alert Bay), British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
during 1969
Collection Date
during 1969
Ownership Date
before January 26, 1978
Acquisition Date
on January 26, 1978

Other

Item Classes
works on paper
Condition
fair
Accession Number
0432/0016