Thread: Design & Carve the Totem Wings

Looking great!
When the carved pole is up and the wings are attached, will there be any additional form of attachment to stabilize the wings?

Many months later, the totem was finished. The anchor for the totem pole is concrete poured into a form with steel reinforcement, set below the "frost line" and rising above the normal snow accumulation depth. A steel plate was cut to the circumference of the totem's bottom, attached and when hoisted by crane onto the base and bolted to the concrete. This was done as protection against earthquake tremors. Raising it protects the bottom of the totem from snow and water damage and gives the totem more height from which it can be viewed on the driveway to the residence.

Once the totem pole was erected and bolted to the base, the wings were ready to set. Before the wings were mounted into place, 1/2" holes were bored through the back of the mortise which allowed 12" long lag screws to be used to anchor the wings tightly in the mortise from the cavity on the backside

Excellent, looks fantastic!

Fantastic work Jack and a wonderful result. Well worth the wait to see it. More importantly, thanks for sharing the process. That is the real value of this sort of site in my opinion. I can look at photos of carving anywhere... finding sequence photos of how it was done requires the generosity of the carver. So Thank You...

I noticed that the totom was not finished with anything and that cracks had started to appear. Did they ever get worse or did they settle down?

True, I did not apply any sealers, oils or conditioners to the totem pole. The checking (cracks) was expected as this area is extremely dry especially in the winter with sub zero temps. Relative humidity about 6%. Removing the pulp wood and exposing more surface area on the back side of the totem mitigates the appearance of 1 or 2 huge wide cracks on the carved side which could cause some damage to carved areas. Instead the checking is uniform and small by comparison. After the 1st winter, the piece was dry and no further checking occurred.

If the totem were to stay in British Columbia, Canada or somewhere with high humidity it is possible the checking would be much less. There really isn't any way to stop it, just manage how it happens. Logs that thick are going to move. Within a few years the totem will "silver" loosing all of its wet cedar color. However, the totem should last
many decades as it is not in the ground or sitting in a pool of water, so I don't anticipate dry rot at the base which is what has caused many totems native to BC to eventually collapse.

True totem poles were never expected to last forever. Family and cultural affinities changed over time. Their sense of time has come from thousands of years in that region. Consequently, the totem pole was and still is an ideal vehicle of expression. PacNW people don't share our sense of time and our need for monumental perpetuity. It was life, it is life and pole are not to be re-erected after they fall.

Even the excesses of the Canadian Government have failed to sustain the real Haida pole at the railway station in Jasper National Park. Because there are no cultural affinities involved, the new pole is a Haida story pole designed and carved in Haida Gwaii by Charles Edenshaw's grandsons. You can watch the ceremonial standing of the pole on YouTube.

I have spent the last two decades researching my family's west coast heritage. I have learned enough now to concentrate on the period of 1890 - 1910. I have inherited my family's totem pole. Eagle, Salmon Bear and Wolf. It was always displayed in the living room of every house I lived in. I have learned enough to know that it was carved in about 1953-54. Midcoast/Kwaitutl for sure. Not an Ellen Neill pole. Picked up a lot of cultural information along the way, including 10 different joints for maing kerf-bent boxes ( or just "bent-wood boxes" as we have always called them.)

What truly amazes me is your design concept, your strength and perseverance to have done such a monumental carving by yourself in such a short time.

Robson Valley
Thank you for your posts. I appreciate your understanding of the totem as a narrative of life and spirit to native peoples. The “process of creation” is the art of living.

I apologize for forgetting to say that your posts make a lavishly illustrated discourse on log prep, design research, drawing, layout, rough work through to finishing and establishment.
Scale makes no difference at all.
I have a 24" x 16" Owl mask in process, the key points are exactly as you describe.

Very difficult to get close to the carvers of the Pacific Northwest Coast. They are most reluctant to reveal much of anything about their work except by accident! I must have said and done the right things just back in August, considerable progress.

It's really fantastic!!!!!

There are many great things about these Fora, but one of the best is their educational value.

The fact that people from so many nations and cultures contribute here is a aspect thatI relly appreciate. To have such insightful contributions from Jack and Robson is just terrific.

Thank you both , gentlemen!!

OOOPS!!! Nearly forgot, great piece of work Jack!!bravabravabrava