Original - Oil on Copper 24" x 24" (61.0cm x 61.0cm)
Limited Edition Prints Available (100 copies only)
Custom Sizes - please call 416-434-9442
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Totem is a work dedicated to the environment and our ecosystem. The definition of Totem is “a natural object or animal that is believed by a particular society to have spiritual significance and that is adopted by it as an emblem”. In this work the female wolves represent a family and the connection these wolves have with the man in the painting as they call to him with their howls illustrates their connection with him and the universal order. The models for this painting was Paris Black a friend of mine and professional model and the wolves were depicted from my dog Mischa which is part wolf. The carved moose antlers at the centre of the picture were created by Fire Hawk Studios and I was grateful to be able to use these beautiful sculptures in my piece.
In North America Grey Wolves are an endangered species and protected under the Endangered Species Act. Historically wolves have been hunted as pests however now we have a greater understanding of the balance they provide to ecosystems. For example, Wolves have been an integral part of the revival of Yellowstone National Park.
In this piece the background with smokestacks spewing pollution and power lines cutting the landscape, illustrates the impacts of industrialization while the wolf family in the foreground illustrate the hope of a future where humans and the environment can coexist.