Double Sided Thunderbird and Lightning Snake Paddle
This is a hand-carved yellow cedar Paddle by Cree and adopted Nuu-chah-nulth artist Joshua Prescott. This paddle is deeply carved on both sides with two elaborate designs featuring Nuu-chah-nulth aesthetic elements inspired by the beauty of the natural world and Joshua's encounters with the animals, creatures, and beings within it. Joshua's playful design pays homage to Thunderbird, Seal, Bluejay, Wolf, Mouse, Raven, Lightning Snake, Bear and the lesser-known Red Turban Snail (one of the primary sources of operculum shells on the Northwest Coast). One side is painted in red and black acrylic and the reverse in red, dark blue, and black acrylic. The paddle is about 60.5 inches or 5 feet in length.
Joshua writes:
"The inspiration for this paddle came from nature, all the beautiful creatures, colors, patterns, and the images. My children's great, great grandparents have had an enormous impact on me, thus my artwork. I remember Stanley and Sidney teaching me their language and talking about art. They would tell me things, our art tells stories. This I believe was when I started using more creatures, multiple creatures. It is fun designing, making all the animals fit together in a way that flows and fills the space. I do double-sided paddles so that I am using the space on both sides to practice and grow. I have seen old paddles with both sides adorned. Design is a language. I believe we are physical beings. We are always receiving and giving off energy. Energy is a language, energy never lies. Art is spiritual.
Looking back on these pieces I can recognize my own growth as an artist. For the past ten years, I have been learning to speak my children's language nuuchahnulth; I consider it my language now. The elders I have worked with over the years always accepted me. They say ours instead of mine. I have been learning to tell what we call himwica stories. These are stories that teach and grow the mind. For the past four years, I have desired to connect my artwork with storytelling. I am now able to tell stories in nuchahnulth. This is the direction of my life now to become as fluent in nuuchahnulth as I can and to pass on what I know before I die. People see art work, but there is much more. To share a piece of nuuchahnulth wisdom hishukish cawaak 'everything is one, everything is interconnected'."
How to Hand a Paddle
A paddle can be hung in several ways depending on the space you wish to hang it.
In the gallery we tie a black cotton string just under the handle around the neck of the paddle and hang it by the string vertically on a hook coated with rubber, so that it doesn't scratch the back of the handle. The handle is on top, and the tip of the paddle is pointed down.
A paddle may also be hung horizontally or angled, suspended in the air from the wall or ceiling, using transparent fishing line. Just loop two fishing lines around, one on either end of the paddle, to hold it in place.
Some museums have a holder fabricated that is lined with felt and will hold the paddle tight in the middle and screw it to the wall. That way you can hang it any way you like. You would need a metal fabricator to make this holder.
If you have any more questions please email us at info@spiritsofthewestcoast.com
Shipping Information
We ship internationally!
Free shipping to the USA and Canada.
The Shipping times mentioned below are estimates for orders that we have in our inventory and are not guaranteed . Shipping to the USA or other international locations may be delayed due to national customs organizations, especially now due to the COVID-19 impact. These delays are not included in the shipping estimates mentioned and are out of our control.
If you have a specific shipping / delivery deadline, please call or email us, to make sure we have the item that you would like to order in stock.
Custom orders or orders for items that we don’t have in our inventory, or don’t have the exact size in stock, will take longer. It usually takes 2 – 4 weeks depending on the individual item and artist, to have individual items carved. Custom orders may take somewhat longer.
International Shipping - items may be subject to customs processing depending on the item's declared value.
Sellers set the item's declared value and must comply with customs declaration laws.
As the buyer, you should be aware of possible:
- delays from customs inspection.
- import duties and taxes which buyers must pay.
- brokerage fees payable at the point of delivery.
Your country's customs office can offer more details.
Regular Shipping:
We usually use Canada Post services without tracking information for our regular shipping option. The delivery standards for surface/air shipping are usually 2 - 9 business days (Canada), 5 - 12 business days (USA), 6 - 35 business days (Europe) and 6-35 business days to the other continents. If your shipping address is remote, delivery times may increase. These delivery standards are estimates and are not guaranteed.
Canada Post International Parcel Surface or Priority Worldwide Express Shipments:
If you would like to find a faster priority / express shipping service, than the ones mentioned in the shopping cart, or if shipping times are less important than the cost, please contact us for a custom shipping quote. Delivery dates mentioned below are approximations that do not include delays due to International Customs or unforeseen circumstances. The delivery standards for Priority™ Worldwide( Usually through FedEx ) are usually 2-3 business days (USA), 3-5 business days (Europe) and 4-6 business days to the other continents. The delivery standards for International Parcel Surface can be up to 7 weeks. If your shipping address is remote, delivery times may increase. These delivery standards are estimates and are not guaranteed.
Canada Post shipping services with tracking numbers can be tracked at the following website: http://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/track/personal/findByTrackNumber?execution=e1s1
Return/Refund Policy
Returns / Cancellation of Custom Orders
If for some reason you are not 100 percent satisfied with the piece of art received, please contact us before you return it. We offer you the opportunity to return it, if you inform us within the first five days after delivery, that you would like to return it.
This offer is under the condition that it is not a custom order, it was not worn, it is in the same condition it was originally shipped and we are informed about the return, before it is shipped back. We will send you a return confirmation.
Custom orders or personalized artwork (with personal message/engraving) are not returnable. Down payments for custom orders are also not refundable, if the artwork has been started.
If you return the item / items from outside of Canada, make sure you specify on the description for customs that it is a return, as well as that the item is made in Canada.
After receiving the returned piece of art, we will refund the full purchase price minus the actual shipping costs and any customs and/or brokerage fees we were charged. Customs and brokerage fees can usually be evaded if you return your purchase with your national postal service. Using FedEx, UPS or any other private shipping company will often lead to customs and/or brokerage fees.
We do accept that for Christmas gifts bought in November and December, the delivery date for our return policy will be December 25th, instead of the actual date your order is delivered. Please contact us on or before December 30th, if you would like to return or exchange your purchase.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase.
Refunds (if applicable)
Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. If everything is ok, we will also notify you of your refund.
If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within a certain amount of days.
Late or missing refunds (if applicable)
If you haven’t received a refund yet, first check your bank account again.
Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted.
Next contact your bank. There is often some processing time before a refund is posted.
If you’ve done all of this and you still have not received your refund yet, please contact us at info@spiritsofthewestcoast.com.
Exchanges (if applicable)
We only replace items if they are defective or damaged at delivery. If you need to exchange it for the same item, send us an email at info@spiritsofthewestcoast.com and send your item to:
Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery, 2926 Back Road, Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N 9G9, Canada.
Shipping
To return your product, you should mail your product to:
Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery, 2926 Back Road, Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N9G9, Canada
You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the original cost of shipping it to you will be deducted from your refund.
Always use a trackable shipping service and purchase shipping insurance.
If you return the item / items from outside of Canada, make sure you specify on the description for customs that it is a return, as well as that the item is made in Canada.
We can't guarantee that we will receive your returned item.