Your Cart is Empty
$6,639.00
Dimensions:20 x 10 x 9 inches
Material: Red cedar, acrylic paint
Year: 2024
Artist Statement:
"The story of the Dogfish Mother tells of a woman who was carried off by a Dogfish and was transformed into a shark herself. She is depicted having a face with a hooked nose and gills. She became an ancestress of the families who now claim the Shark as their crest. The dogfish is a common type of shark, so the dogfish mother is a larger shark, a blue shark or great white." - Haida artist, Corey Bulpitt
Dogfish mother is a supernatural being, with characteristics of woman and shark. This mask shows the shark's gills around the side of the mouth, and top of the head. The high-ranking status of Dogfish Mother is further illustrated by the crown around the top of its head. The hooked nose is reminiscent of the nose of a dogshark. The labret, a piercing in the lower lip, represents women of high esteem. The labret is meant to show how powerful the words of high ranking women are, the labrets slow down speech, to create more intention behind the words spoken, to speak words of respect. The shark's teeth are depicted above the forehead.
The cedar for this mask was given to Corey Bulpitt by renowned Haida artist, Reg Davidson from Old Massett. This piece of cedar has unique characteristics, with dark lines in the grain, evenly spaced out, and tightly packed grain. Corey Bulpitt waited for the perfect moment of inspiration to create with this exceptional cedar, ensuring it would be used to its fullest potential. As many sculptors and carvers share, the medium reveals to the artist what is should become. This piece seems to have been destined for Dogfish Mother, as the beautiful grain of the wood emerges, akin to the lines and gills of Dogfish Mother.
The paint is intentionally given an antiqued finish to create that organic, worn, antiqued feel.
The story of dogfish mother was popularized by Bill Reid, who also featured dog shark woman widely in his art.
Design & painting by Haida artist, Corey Bulpitt:
Corey Bulpitt, also known as Taakeit Maya or "Gifted Carver" by the Haida of the Naikun Raven clan, was born in Prince Rupert, BC. He is the great-great-grandson of famed artist Charles Edenshaw (1839-1920) and prolific argillite carver Louis Collison (1881-1970). Bulpitt is an avid painter, jeweller, and wood and argillite carver who has enjoyed exploring many different mediums. He experiments with contemporary media and design elements and uses spray paint to create large-scale graffiti-style paintings involving urban youth in Vancouver, incorporating traditional Haida formline. As a member of the Beat Nation Live arts collective, Corey's contemporary graffiti art pieces can be seen in many museums, festivals, and urban landscapes.
In 2010, Bulpitt assisted Klatle Phi in crafting a 30-foot pole for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. In 2017, he received the BC Creative Achievement Award for First Nations Art for Artistic Excellence in both traditional and contemporary visual art. Bulpitt is a board member of the Bill Reid Foundation.
How do we ship your art?
Our mission is to ensure that every piece arrives in the same condition it left us in so that you can enjoy your artwork right away. Our packaging methods follow museum-quality recommendations to protect and preserve fine art.
Hard Crating:
We package this artwork in a custom-built plywood crate. Then we add multiple layers of protection, including chip foam to cushion the piece, which is then enclosed in a box made from heavy-duty foam board and further enclosed in a plywood box. Handles are added to each crate to ensure ease of transport through each touch point. We ship UPS, which includes full insurance, a tracking number, and an adult signature required, which is required upon delivery. We also complete all necessary customs clearance paperwork for items traveling outside Canada.
Our packaging methods adhere to museum and fine art standards to ensure your piece arrives safely.
Testimonials:
“The UPS delivery man was very complimentary about the crating, saying it was the best he had seen! The Fisherman's Delight is in excellent condition! I'm so happy with it. Thank you for all your help and for following up to make certain that all was good with it. Excellent customer care and service! We've already made multiple recommendations for you and your business to friends who are also visiting Haida Gwaii.”
“The piece made it home intact and we are in the process of framing. Thanks for the help with this.”
“Excellent packaging job.”
Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have any inquiries. We look forward to attending to your needs with the utmost care and attention to detail.
