Columbia Basin Fisherman
Columbia Basin Fisherman is a life size bronze sculpture that was commissioned for the Western Art Association. The sculpture is an edition of three and the number one of the edition is currently on display in the Yakima Nation Cultural Center and Museum in Toppenish, WA.
The basis for the commission was to portray the physical characteristics, attire and fishing spear that were historically accurate. The figure is stocky in build consistent with the lifestyle of squatting around campfires and rowing canoes. The forehead is flattened in the manner of that period of time to indicate tribal status. During his travels along the Columbia Basin area Paul Kane did paintings showing the method of flattening the forehead of infants by the use of a cradleboard. The clothing is cedar bark and the typical cone shaped hat is also shown. The fishing spear demonstrates the design that was commonly used. Pieces of wood of the appropriate shape were hardened by placing next to a fire thus giving them a spring like nature. Pieces of sharp material such as antler tips were lashed to the wood pieces. When the spear was thrust to snag a fish the two spring like sides would spread apart and upon pulling back on the spear the sharp points would impale the sides of the fish. The method was very effective in catching fish.
Columbia Basin Fisherman was appraised at $85,000. # 2 of the edition is available for viewing at my studio in Kalama, WA.
