Sitka, AK
Tommy Joseph creates hybrid carved wooden totems that are imaginative interpretations of creatures, be they fish, animal, or human. He uses stylistic and formal elements drawn from his Tlingit heritage as inspiration to create innovative reinterpretations that comment on contemporary community life. The artist—of Eagle Moiety, Kaagwaantaan Clan—has been actively working in Northwest Coast carving for more than twenty years as an instructor, interpreter, and demonstrator.
Eagle Helmet, 2005, alder, polar bear fur, copper; photo courtesy the artist