Artwork copyright James Jordan. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright James Jordan. Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Sea Monsters, 1982

James Jordan
American (born 1945, died 2001)

Location: Department of Transportation - Ferry: Issaquah, Seattle

About the Artwork

Non-Native artist James Jordan created Sea Monsters for the MV Issaquah, a Washington State Ferry. Many elements of the artwork are based on traditions from the Indigenous Northwest Coast peoples. The painted sea monster figure is based on Northwest Coast curved and ovoid formline designs. The cedar boards were hand-carved with an adze, in the style of Northwest Coast carvings. Jordan notes that this piece "depicts the Haida [First Nations] legend of the five-finned killer whale. These stories probably evolved based on sightings of schools of these sea giants by fishermen."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Department of Transportation - Ferries.

About the Artist

Oregon-based, non-Native artist James Jordan (1945-2001) created artworks influenced by the artistic traditions of the Northwest Coastal tribes. He was born in Longview, Southwestern Washington and attended Lower Columbia College (in Longview) before graduating from the American School of Photography. James Jordan was a longtime resident of the small town of Rainier in Northwestern Oregon on the Columbia River.