The artwork featured on this week’s page-1 topper was created by Ketchikan, Alaska artist Matthew Helgesen. It is a wood panel made of Western red cedar with design in acrylic paint.
“The panel is made to look like the side of a bentwood box,” Helgesen said. “These boxes were traditionally used for storing food and personal belongings of the natives of the northwest coast and Alaska.” A “bentwood” box is called such because the box is made from one piece of wood that is steamed and bent.
“Most Haida art is made of western red cedar, like our great totems and large canoes and plank houses, also known as long houses,” Helgesen said. “The painting is a traditional northwest coast native form-line design.” He said the eagle represents his clan, which is part of the Haida tribe.
To contact the artist, email matthewhelgesen@yahoo.com.
