PHOTOS: Indigenous carvers make their mark at Hallie Ford

The smell of cedar was strong and fragrant in the lobby of the Hallie Ford Museum on Saturday. The usually neat and tidy reception area was covered with wood shavings, tarps, tables, and stumps of wood where people sat, carved wood, told jokes, and made objects of breathtaking beauty.

On Oct. 8, the museum invited several carvers from various Indigenous nations to come and demonstrate their carving techniques prior to the dedication of a commissioned “welcome figure” by carver Bobby Mercier of the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde. Carvers at the demonstration represented First Nations from the Coos and Coquille to the Chinook, Clackamas, Santiam, Wasco and the Wakanassissi (Mary’s River Kalapuyan). Many of the carvers present had been carving for over 20 years, and some had just started, but all were enthusiastic.

The dedication of the eight-foot-high welcome figure in the Hallie Ford Museum lobby honors George and Colleen Hoyt’s gift of their world-class collection of contemporary Northwest Coast Native art to Willamette University. Traditionally, welcome figures are used by some local tribes as markers to welcome people to their territories. They are placed in the direction of arriving guests, and this figure will be welcoming museum guests for many years to come.

Greg Robinson of the Chinook tribe created this intricately carved copper dagger hilt. Copper was a very precious item to Pacific Northwest Indigenous people: it came from Alaska and was very expensive. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)

Bobby Mercier of the Grand Ronde Tribe leans over his spirit board that he was carving out of yellow cedar at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem on Saturday, Oct. 8. Bobby said he had about fifty already in his office to keep him company. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)

A carver shows his ceremonial drum that he painted from the design that was in the hide already and that also came from a dream that he had at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem on Saturday, Oct. 8. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)

A spirit figure emerges from the hands of carver Travis Stewart (Wakanassissi/Clackamas) at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem on Saturday, Oct. 8. These figures are used in the longhouse during the winter when stories are told and they can be seen in the light of the fire. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)

Lamprey are a very important First Food to many indigenous peoples, and Nick Labonte (Chinook/Wasco) is happy to see the lamprey are starting to recover in many streams and rivers. He commemorated this event with his carving at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem on Saturday, Oct. 8. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)

Bobby Mercier of the Grand Ronde Tribe talks to visitors about carving at the Carving Demonstration event at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem on Saturday, Oct. 8. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)

Bobby Mercier stands by the completed eight-foot-high welcome figure that will greet guests as they enter the Hallie Ford Museum of Art on Saturday, Oct. 8 (Frank Miller Photography credit)

This article was updated to clarify that the practice of welcoming guests with welcome figures is practiced by some local tribes, following an update to the Hallie Ford curator’s statement.

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By Laura Tesler - Special to Salem Reporter

Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.