Painting Item Number: 3527/7 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Rectangular piece of barkcloth with abstract twisted ladder-like designs painted across surface; done in black. Comb-like shapes, decorative circles, and other geometric motifs throughout patterns. Back of barkcloth is undecorated.
The barkcloth is made by men, beating a layer of tree bark until it is thin and pliable. Women paint the designs, which are often symbolic of their forested surroundings, using a mixture of charcoal and natural plant dyes.