Artwork copyright Duane Pasco. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2022.

Artwork copyright Duane Pasco. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2022.

Artwork copyright Duane Pasco. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2022.

Artwork copyright Duane Pasco. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2022.

Artwork copyright Duane Pasco. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2022.

Artwork copyright Duane Pasco. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, original 1979 installation.

Artwork copyright Duane Pasco. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, original 1979 installation.

Thunderbird, 1978

Duane Pasco
(American, born 1932)

Location: Wy'East Middle School, Vancouver

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Thunderbird is a large-scale, carved cedar wall sculpture by artist Duane Pasco. Its imagery includes different animal figures from the ecology and mythology of the nearby Columbia River region in Southwestern Washington. It is made in the style of traditional Native American Northwest Coast Salish designs.

Pasco created Thunderbird in 1978 for an exterior location at Wy’East Junior High in Vancouver, Southwestern Washington. In 2022, ArtsWA restored and moved this artwork and moved it to an interior location as part of the school’s remodel.

Duane Pasco is not Native. He has made the study of Indigenous artistic traditions of the Northwest Coast his life’s work. Many credit him as an outstanding craftsperson and a generous teacher, who nurtured numerous emerging, Native carvers. Others are critical that he benefitted financially from opportunities that could have gone to Native artists, using traditions that are not his own.

There are many things in the world around us that become more complex with deeper study. How do you reflect on this artwork and its history?

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Evergreen School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artist Duane Pasco is a non-Native wood carver and sculptor. His artworks are very strongly influenced by the Indigenous artistic traditions of the Northwest Coast. He has made the study of these Northwest Coast Indigenous artistic traditions his life’s work. Many credit him as an outstanding craftsperson and a generous teacher, who nurtured emerging Native carvers. Others are critical that he benefitted financially from opportunities that could have gone to Native artists, using traditions that are not his own.

Born in Seattle, Pasco's family moved to Alaska early in his childhood. In the early 1970s, he served as an art instructor in Northern British Columbia, Canada, before returning to the Seattle area. Pasco is based in Poulsbo, on the Kitsap Peninsula, southern Puget Sound, Western Washington.