The Sperm Whale has endured years of devastation and yet survived to bless us
with its grace and power. Having found this specimen gifted to us from the sea,
it is important to honor its remains and, I believe, its spirit.
One of the best representations of spirit in nature is
found in the northwest coast native art. Bill Holms, the leading non-native
expert on northwest art, has termed the style of painting “formline”. I like to
think of it as x-ray vision of the spirit within.
Given that the most frequently depicted whale seen in 'formline art' is the Orca
or Killer Whale, I had to develop my version of a Sperm Whale spirit painting.
There is a large body of information regarding formline design, but I will give
an abbreviated version as it appears in this painting.
The painting encompasses both the masculine and feminine essence of the whale.
The head is powerful and fierce. The Sperm Whale has a real “blockhead”
appearance. Starting with the front-there is a “u”shape with a split “u” inside.
This will appear in many areas in the painting giving space and filler at the
same time that is a transitional device which helps the painting work as a unit.
The next form is the eye. Typically it is an ovoid shape, but the round Haida
tribe's pupil is the representation which I prefer. Below is the mouth which
shows the teeth in their typical “Chiclets” style. The first tooth is in the
shape of the sperm whale's tooth. Then, above the eye you see what is designed
as the real essence of the whale which almost cost them their existence. The
ovoid and “u” contain “oil” for which it was hunted supplying light for the
lanterns and machines of the 19th century industrial revolution. The three
spheres in the front are to guide the whale in sonar fashion.
Moving down the painting you will see the Heart of the Whale depicted as an
Eagle. At this point you may notice several circles which serve as “joints”
between the flipper, jaw and base of the tail. Also in the flipper you see the
hand shape which indicates an evolutionary representation of the human hand.
In the abdomen you will find a full stomach of the sperm whale’s favorite food…
Squid. Deep in the belly is the “new moon” to symbolize the waxing and waning of
the tides of the ocean in which the whale frolics.
Above, along the top, are the ribs capturing the air brought in through the
blowhole and, down the back is the spine leading to the feminine tail. The tail
contains small bird spirit representations to give lift to the tail as it moves
the whale through the ocean and especially to the surface for air.
As this was a young male, you will see the promise of the future to give to the
next generation of Sperm Whales complete with an oil sphere. My hope is that the
next generations will increase in numbers to swim the oceans for generations to
come.
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