Clifford George - Mama and Baby, Grey Whales
Clifford George was born on the West Coast of Vancouver Island in August 1962 and raised in Tofino and Ucluelet B.C. He is from Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet) First Nations. Clifford speaks about how his inspiration came early in elementary school, when he watched a biography on Emily Carr painting around Nootka Sound and the West Coast.
His artwork started as drawings and then original paintings in the late 80's. In 1996, he started learning about carving cedar, first with plaques, paddles, and masks, and then moving on to totem poles, including one 20-foot pole that was sent to Amsterdam.
Mama and Baby, Grey Whales
Whales are highly respected and treasured in Nuu-chah-nulth culture. Grey Whales are said to represent awareness and travel, migrating over ten thousand miles yearly with the seasons. As you can see in Clifford George's unique design of the mama and her baby, Grey Whales also represent love, family and community in their strong connections living and traveling in groups.
