Painting Item Number: 3527/16 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Rectangular piece of barkcloth with abstract linear and geometric motifs painted in three sections across surface; done in black. Top section has rows of grouped diagonal lines; second section is filled with intersecting curved and diagonal lines. Bottom section of painting is filled with an assortment of intersecting lines of varying widths, plain lines, and small dashes. All sections are divided by three horizontal lines; 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.