Nootka Totem Pole by Rick Williams

Rick Williams (Nootka / Nuu-chah-nulth, b. 1955). "2' Red Cedar Seattle Pole" painted wood sculpture hand carved by Rick Williams and signed with title on verso of pole. A wonderfully detailed cedar wood totem pole titled "2' Red Cedar Seattle Pole" hand-carved by Nootkan artist Rick Williams. Painted in vibrant pigments of red, blue, green, black, and white, the elaborate sculpture features traditional imagery of stacked zoomorphs, displaying, from top to bottom, a thunderbird, a beaver holding a fish, a frog, a wolf, a raven, a killer whale, and an eagle. Born in Seattle in 1955, Rick Williams is a seventh generation Nitinaht carver of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations of Vancouver Island, Canada. His father Ray Williams served as both his teacher and mentor. Ray taught his skills and knowledge to his oldest son Rick and his brothers and sisters as well as a few other local carvers lucky enough to get an apprenticeship. Ray Williams passed away in 1988. In early 2012, Rick and his son Eagleson carved a 34-foot totem pole in honor of his brother John T. Williams. John was shot dead in the streets of Seattle. The pole was raised in Seattle Center on February 26 of the same year. Rick still carves today. His positive Attitude and wisdom make him a pleasure to be around. Each piece of his art is amazingly detailed and masterfully carved. He has memorized and mastered the 250 traditional designs and has developed his own detail and style. Rick is one of the best and most accomplished carvers in Seattle and possibly the entire indigenous world. The large Williams family of artists has been carving for many generations. The result of this long family tradition is a style that is not only traditional and technically skillful, but also aesthetically pleasing.