- Tommy Joseph: Rainforest Warriors
- Artist Interview
- Copyright Notice
Tommy Joseph: Rainforest Warriors
At the Alaska State Museum April 5, 2013 to October 12, 2013
"My art is a part of my culture that helped make me the artist I am today.
My art is not mine to keep, but mine to share. My teachers are the old pieces.
This art is not a dead art form. It continues to evolve the way it always has."
Tommy Joseph, 2013
Photographs by Sara Boesser
Idle No More
Slat Rod Legging Armor (spruce and hemp);
Painted Formline: Raven
Near left corner of the Governor's Gallery, going in.
Far left corner, showing four figures.
Far wall, showing a case of objects from the Alaska State Museum collection.
Far right corner, showing two figures.
Wooden Logger's Hat
Tommy Joseph, Sitka, 2009
Gift of the Rasmuson Foundation Art Acquisition Initiative 2010-32-1
Joseph, a noted totem pole carver, was readying himself to raise a totem pole in Sitka, and he realized he needed a hat to keep the rain off his head during the ceremony. He was from a family of Alaskan loggers, and remembering the brimmed hard hats that family members used to wear, he fashioned one for himself out of wood, thus symbolizing his connection to his family occupation.
For the Little Battles in Life
Helmet (Pacific Yew wood, opercula shells, copper, hair)
Four wooden war helmets as seen from the near end of the left platform.
Female figure with Marten Helmet
- Marten Helmet (alder, copper, walrus whiskers, opercula)
- Armor Vest (buffalo hide, Chinese coins)
- Tunic (elk hide and sinew)
- Knee High Moccasin Boots (deer hide)
- Spear with Athabascan Dagger
- Double Handle Copper Dagger
Marten Helmet (alder, copper, walrus whiskers, opercula)
Armor Vest (buffalo hide, Chinese coins)
Tunic (elk hide and sinew)
Double Handle Copper Dagger
Spear with Athabascan Dagger
Male figure with Brown Raven Helmet
- Raven Helmet (alder, Sitka brown bear fur, copper)
- Collar (alder and cowhide); Painted Formline: Raven
- Elk Hide Tunic
- Upper Body Slat Armor (alder and hemp); Painted Formline: Raven
- Slat Armor Leggings (alder and hemp); Painted Formline: Raven Wing and Leg
- Beaded Deer Hide Moccasins
- Copper Dagger with Cowhide Sheath and Carved Raven Handle
Raven Helmet (alder, Sitka brown bear fur, copper)
Collar (alder and cowhide); Painted Formline: Raven
Elk Hide Tunic
Upper Body Slat Armor (alder and hemp); Painted Formline: Raven
Slat Armor Leggings (alder and hemp); Painted Formline: Raven Wing and Leg
Copper Dagger with Cowhide Sheath and Carved Raven Handle
Male figure with White Raven Helmet
- White Raven Helmet (alder, polar bear fur, copper)
- Buffalo Hide Tunic
- White Canvas Moccasin Pants
- Wolf Dagger with Sheathe (copper, alder, hide)
- War Pick (yew wood, jade)
White Raven Helmet (alder, polar bear fur, copper)
Buffalo Hide Tunic
War Pick (yew wood, jade)
Male figure with Female Yew Helmet
- Helmet Depicting a Female (Pacific Yew wood, New Zealand paua abalone, human hair)
- Collar (yew wood, Haida Gwaii opercula shells)
- Hide Tunic
- Upper Body Slat Armor (Pacific Yew wood, sinew)
- Deer Hide Moccasin Boots
- Bear Design Dagger (Pacific Yew wood, copper, New Zealand paua abalone)
- Bow with Arrow (Pacific Yew wood, sinew, red cedar, feather)
Helmet Depicting a Female (Pacific Yew wood, New Zealand paua abalone, human hair)
Collar (yew wood, Haida Gwaii opercula shells)
Upper Body Slat Armor (Pacific Yew wood, sinew)
Bear Design Dagger (Pacific Yew wood, copper, New Zealand paua abalone)
Male figure with Human/Man Helmet
- Helmet, Human Depicted (alder, human hair, opercula)
- Painted Tunic, Bear Design
- Upper Body Slat Armor
- White Deer Hide Beaded Moccasin Pants
- Double-Bladed Dagger with Deer Hide Sheath
Helmet, Human Depicted (alder, human hair, opercula)
Painted Tunic, Bear Design
Upper Body Slat Armor
Double-Bladed Dagger with Deer Hide Sheath
Male figure with Human/Bear Helmet
- Helmet, Human Depicted (alder, opercula, human hair)
- Tunic (Chinese coin, buffalo hide)
- Knee High Moccasin Boots (deer hide)
- Eagle War Club (yellow cedar, sea lion teeth)
- Bear Pommel Dagger with Sheathe (copper, alder, hide)
Helmet, Human Depicted (alder, opercula, human hair)
Tunic (Chinese coin, buffalo hide)
Eagle War Club (yellow cedar, sea lion teeth)
Keith Hoofnagle Tlingit Warriors
Collection of Tommy Joseph
Louis S. Glanzman 1804 Battle of Sitka
Print, 1988
Collection of Tommy Joseph
Bill Holm Raven Warrior
Print, 1991
Collection of Tommy Joseph
Ray Troll
The Battle of Old Sitka
Print, 2002
Collection of Tommy Joseph
War
"The Tlingit waged war for several reasons – to defend clan rights, to avenge murder, theft, and insult, and to capture booty and slaves.
Men prepared for war as they did for other important ceremonial occasions; they fasted and took cold baths to harden and purify their bodies; they consulted the shaman on the outcome of their venture; and they painted their faces and donned ceremonial clothes.
Enemies settled their disputes with a peacemaking ceremony in which both sides exchanged hostages and paid damages. Payment was made in the form of trade goods, the rights to particular clan songs, crest objects, and hunting or fishing territories."
- Tommy Joeseph -
Dagger
Tlingit (attribution),
19th century
Collected by Paul Rabut, n.d.
II-B-1890
Dagger
Tlingit or Haida,
19th century
Collected at the Old Kasaan,
Prince of Wales Island,
before 1963
II-B-1306
Bow
Tlingit or Haida,
18th or early 19th century
Deaccessioned from the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, England
II-B-1896
Slat Armor Fragment
Tlingit (attribution),
19th century
Collected at Sitka by Dr. B.K. Wilbur, circa 1890-1901
II-B-690
Close up of Slat Armor Fragment
Tlingit (attribution),
19th century
Collected at Sitka by Dr. B.K. Wilbur, circa 1890-1901
II-B-690
Close up of two daggers
Left Dagger
Tlingit (attribution),
19th century
Collected by Paul Rabut, n.d.
II-B-1890
Right Dagger
Tlingit or Haida,
19th century
Collected at the Old Kasaan,
Prince of Wales Island,
before 1963
II-B-1306
