Silkscreen print. The Killer whale, Keet, is a crest belonging to some members of the Wolf/Eagle clan. A double killer whale is the crest which adorns the button blanket belonging to the artist's aunt, who is a member of the Nahn-yah-ahyi of Wrangell Alaska. The Keet-kuh-waal board also belongs to that tribe of the Tlingit. "My grandfather told me of its use, however, he felt some longer explanation was needed," said artist Ben Paul. "The fact that his people were once slave holders did not sit right with him. The board sat on top of the owner’s house who, when he wanted to give freedom to one of his slaves, would take down the board and with a brief ceremony cut a lock of hair from the slave’s head, place it in the side of the board, and release the slave. Grandfather liked to add that many of these slaves were more like family members. He gives the example of his step father who paid for an injury which a young boy committed and then made the lad work off the debt. He was his “slave” for a time. Yet, to our shame, many slaves were obtained without compassion. We have long since ceased this behavior." The image is 8x13 inches on 13x18 inch stonehenge paper, edition of 99.

By Ben Paul. $140.00 (#1213)