Medicine Drum

DateMay 1979

Maker Joe David First Nations, Nuu-chah-nulth, Clayoquot, born 1946

Label TextJoe David is one of the founders of the Northwest Coast Indian Artists Guild, which produced annual publications of prints in 1977, 1978, and 1979 in an effort to professionalize and legitimize silkscreen printing as an art form. A renowned and prolific artist in carving, painting, glass production, and printmaking, David’s prints are always exciting. This is one of four designs he produced in 1979 that uses the dynamic format of the circular drum. Here, Thunderbird poses with traditional medicinal plants—gifts to humankind—under his wing.

Object number2018.29.14

Provenance[Pacific Editions Limited, Victoria, British Columbia]; purchased from gallery by Bruce and Mary-Louise Colwell, Seattle, Washington, Mar. 11, 2002; to Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, 2018

Photo CreditPhoto: Elizabeth Mann

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, INKED! Northwest Coast Silkscreen Prints from the Colwell Collection, Mar. 5 - Dec. 12, 2021.

Credit LineGift of R. Bruce and Mary-Louise Colwell

Dimensions21 7/8 x 19 7/8 in. (55.6 x 50.5 cm)

MediumSilkscreen on Arches cover white paper