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Untitled (Tlingit style Brown Bear and Human Panel)

Livingston, John

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Untitled (Tlingit style Brown Bear and Human Panel) by Livingston, John © unknown, research needed
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Untitled (Tlingit style Brown Bear and Human Panel) by Livingston, John © the artist or other rights holder

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Untitled (Tlingit style Brown Bear and Human Panel) by Livingston, John © the artist or other rights holder
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Untitled (Tlingit style Brown Bear and Human Panel) by Livingston, John. Legacy's staff are not aware of any copyright restrictions

Artwork Detail - V6

Livingston, John
reliefs (sculptures)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1973
Abalone; paint; operculum; yellow cedar
overall: 212.50 cm x 112.50 cm x 0.00 cm
Side A: large relief, red outlined bear facing outward, paws held up, with claws protruding from main sculptural surface. Above the bear's head an upside-down, turquoise, ovoid face is looking out, open-mouthed, with natural wood teeth showing. The head and torso of an unknown humanoid creature peaks out each of the bear's ears. The bear's eyes and nostrils each contain small carved faces. Each of the bear's two outward-facing paws also contain a similarly carved face. The bear's bent elbows and knees all contain black and turquoise, bird-like faces. The bear's hind paws are formed in such a manner that, accompanied by existing claw forms, an additional inscribed eye form creates a face. The bear's chest/torso/belly is an intricately carved section. The chest contains the outward-facing face of what appears to be a frog. Directly underneath, from a birds-eye perspective, is what appears to be a bird similar to a raven or crow. In the bear's abdominal area appears a turquoise face. An upside-down naked human male form is carved in to the bear's belly/genital area. The male figure's feet, palms, chest and ribs are accented with black paint. The figure's face is red, turquoise, and black, with open eyes and mouth. The background of the panel is natural wood (possibly yellow cedar). The bear shape itself is generally outlined with red paint.
Side B: Located in the top half portion of the slab is a man sitting in a waning quarter moon. The moon is painted black. The man is posing similarly to the bear on side a: facing outwards with head erect, palms out and hands up, bent elbows resting on bent knees. The body of the man is painted red, with the following exceptions: black palms, black and turquoise feet, buttocks, and chest. Both the chest and buttocks are carved with what appear to be faces. The man's face and head are multi-coloured. The face is turquoise with red ears, cheeks, lips and forehead markings. The mouth is inlaid with operculum for teeth. The nostrils and eyebrows are black. The eyes are black with natural wood accents, pupils inlaid with abalone.
Tlingit; Human; Cheif Shakes; Kwakwaka'wakw; carving, sculpture, First Nations, bear, man, moon, red, turquoise
Woodwork
Contemporary Art
Gift of the Estate of Michael C. Williams
U001.11.442

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