28" x 24" Framed

1977

Edition 78/100

In 1977, Art Thompson created a series of prints based on sea creatures, colloquially referred to as The Seafood Series. These five prints depicted sea creatures in a playful and unconventional manner. Many of the prints that Art created were based on historical Nuu-chah-nulth formline design and subject matter, but The Seafood Series demonstrated his ability to produce something that was new and experimental while still being recognizably West Coast. Comprised of the Mussel, the Barnacle, the Clam, the Halibut, and the Cod Fish, this series represents the Coastal peoples' reverence for sea creatures and the sustenance they provide.  

Found in abundance in the upper intertidal zone, the large barnacles of the outer west coast are harvested on a year-round basis by Indigenous groups and cooked in sea water. Art Thompson depicts the barnacle as having a large head with a sweeping tongue, combing the water for food. His creative portrayal is based on the actual feeding method of this crustacean which filters organic matter from the water with tongue-like appendages. The artist adds the wave to signify that the tide is in, with the geometric shape representing rocks. 

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Artist Biography and Additional Work