Preserving the Past, Carving
the Future
By Bill Hupe &
Susan Batho
October 09, 2006
Monday
Klawock, Prince of Wales - In the shadow of an ancient forest,
next to State Highway 921, a modest carvers' shed shelters three
totem poles in progress. Outside it, poles lay, still colourful,
but cracking, weathering, waiting their turn to be the next to
be recarved, so that their story can continue.
Carver Jon Rowan Jr., a 43
year old teacher, comes each day after school to continue the
task, five days a week. During summer he employs apprentices,
teaching the skills he has learned himself, passing on his knowledge
about the woods and their nature, seeing those apprentices develop
into skilled and master carvers themselves, reaching their own
potentials.
Carver Jon Rowan Jr.
continues on his self-imposed task to preserve the past.
Photograph by Bill Hupe & Susan Batho ©2006
But once summer is over, Carver Jon Rowan Jr. continues on his
self-imposed task to preserve the past and to produce new poles
requested by families. Each pole is hand carved using a variety
of implements: his prize possession, the old black stone hammer
for use with his chisels found by his sister, now put back to
use after years of being buried in the forest. A Portuguese ship
builders adze, chisels, axe and knives are safely stored in the
beautiful hand-made wooden tool chest when they are not in use.
Woodchips litter the floor. The aroma of fresh carved wood permeates
the air. It feels like a comfortable workplace despite the rain
and mist outside. And Rowan is working upwards of 350 hours
on each pole.
Modest carvers' shed
shelters with totem poles in progress.
Photograph by Bill Hupe & Susan Batho ©2006
A stocky broad-shouldered man with a ready smile, Rowan explains
that the his work is not new; that the poles have been recarved
since the early 1920's, and that they are continuing to experiment
with new mediums of weather-proof paints, and oils, although
after earlier experiments have failed, carvers are moving back
to more traditional methods.
In this land, where the site
of a 10,000 year old settlement rests quietly beneath the forest,
the families still live here, and preservation goes hand-in-hand
with creativity. Stories continue through the passing on of
dance, song and the carving. This is by no means a new phenomenon
- this is the way it has always been, and hopefully shall continue
through the enthusiasm of the young people who listen, learn
and practice and pass their skills on in turn.
Freelance writers Bill
Hupe & Susan Batho are residents of Ketchikan and Faulconbridge
NSW, Australia. Known by most people as "The Twins",
they are a writing and photographic team and specializing in
photography of Alaska and Australia. Their website www.beaustud.com
features some of their work, and they can be reached through
susan_and_bill@hotmail.com
Publish A Letter on SitNews Read Letters/Opinions
Contact the Editor
SitNews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska
|