Artwork copyright James Jordan. Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation, 2019.

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

Owl, 1982

James Jordan
American (born 1945, died 2001)

Location: Department of Transportation - Ferry: Issaquah, Seattle

About the Artwork

Non-Native artist James Jordan hand-carved and painted Owl 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 owl 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 the owl is a common mythological figure for all Northwest Coast Tribes: "The owl often represented a spirit helper of the Shaman. In legend, the Owl was often the bringer of messages and warnings from the spirit world."

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.