Skilaaw is a Haida artist from British Columbia and for his Emerging Artist Scholarship, worked with mentor artist Christian White in wood and argillite carving. Skilaaw created two argillite sculptures titled Sdluuguu’s Day Off and Kul Jaad Xuuajii.
Sdluuguu’s Day Off and Kul Jaad Xuuajii were exhibited in the group exhibition c̓əc̓əwitəl̕ | helping each other | ch’áwatway at the Museum of Vancouver in 2020.
Kul Jaad Xuuajii, 2020
Sdluuguu’s Day Off, 2020
Argillite, Abalone, Yew wood.
Dimensions: 5” x 2”, base” 6” x 6”
In Haida mythology, the land otter is a supernatural sneaky shapeshifter. Often the Sdluuguu would take the shape of someone you desire - coaxing you into walking into the water with them where they would steal you into their world and become a Sdluuguu yourself. In this representation, the otter would rather chill than be mischievous.
