Artwork copyright Art Thompson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Art Thompson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Art Thompson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Art Thompson. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1985.

Pooq-oobs (drum), 1984

Art Thompson
Canadian Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) Ditidaht Cowichan (born 1948, died 2003)

Location: North Tapps Middle School, Lake Tapps

About the Artwork

Canadian Aboriginal artist Art Thompson created Pooq-oobs (drum) in Neah Bay, Washington using traditional Coast Salish drum-making techniques. The figure depicts a whaler thrown overboard during a hunt. Thompson notes, "They wouldn't stop for the man; they would leave him in the water and keep on pursuing the whale, since the whale was an important food source. … Pooq-oobs is represented in white because when a human body is in the water for so long, it bleaches out. He’s got a harpoon and is harpooning the whale below. When his body washes ashore he is so strong-willed from all his preparations for whale hunting that he comes back to life and roams around in the bush, which is represented by hemlock boughs, and he doesn't have hair anymore, so he covers his head to keep it from the sun and the elements, with feathers or cedar bark.”

This artwork is part of Beyond Blue Mountains, a collection that was curated by late Tlingit (Native Alaskan) artist Jim Schoppert. It presents the work of Native American artists of diverse heritage, ideas, materials, and styles. The collection takes an in-depth look at the artists’ unique voices and interpretations of tradition.

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

About the Artist

First Nations master carver, painter, and printmaker Art Thompson (1948-2003) was of Cowichan and Ditidaht heritage, which are Coast Salish tribes of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Thompson was the recipient of Canada's National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 2000.