Totem, (sculpture).

Totem, (sculpture).

Watson, Luke, sculptor.

Smith, George, sculptor. (possibly by)

Totem, (sculpture).

1927. Reinstalled autumn 1994.

Cedar, carved and painted.

Approx. H. 16 ft. (800 pounds).

The totem pole depicts the Haida tribe's version of the Orpheus legend in which a man, Genanasimgat, follows his wife to the bottom of the sea and has numerous adventures before he can retrieve her. The totem pole has a white-painted crane on top with Genanasimgat is under its breast feathers. Genanasimgat holds a tobacco pouch and has a marten on his lap. Below him is the figure of a man with frogs coming out from under his hat. The fourth figure is of Genanasimgat's wife riding on the back of a killer whale and holding its dorsal fin. The whale has a white sea otter or seal in its mouth. The figure at the bottom of the pole is unknown.

Ethnic -- Indian -- Haida

Mythology -- American Indian

Mythology -- Classical -- Orpheus

Animal -- Bird -- Crane

Animal -- Marten

Animal -- Otter

Animal -- Whale

Animal -- Amphibian -- Frog

Outdoor Sculpture -- Washington -- Seattle

Evergreen-Washelli, 11111 Aurora Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98133

The totem was carved in traditional Haida style in the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia. Luke Watson carved the totem pole, but it is thought that he may have been assisted by noted Haida carver, George Smith. The Haida tribe presented the totem to Thomas A. Kelley, of the Kelly Logging Company, and his neighbor, C. S. Harley, founder of the Evergreen-Washelli cemetery. The totem pole was shipped to Seattle by Thomas Kelly and was erected in the Evergreen-Washelli cemetery.

In early 1994, Jan Haavik was retained to restore the totem pole as closely as possible to its 1927 appearance. During research for the restoration, a photograph was discovered that showed the crane at the top of the pole had been painted black which was why it was assumed to be a raven rather than a white crane. Also, the animal in the mouth of the Orca had been painted brown which was why it was identified as a seal or otter rather than a rare white otter or seal. The photographs also helped to determine what parts were original since over the years replacement parts had been added. The restored totem pole was reinstalled near Evergreen Washelli's new funeral home in the fall of 1994. IAS files contain an Evergreen-Washelli brochure describing the Haida legend and the totem's creation and restoration.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Washington survey, 1995.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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