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Jan Zicarelli - Raven
Category: Sculpture.
Stitches used include: brick stitch ; peyote stitch ; fringe and netting.
Raven Brings Light to The People
Raven learns that Sky Chief has taken the sun and hidden it in a wooden box. He comes up with a plan to steal back the sun. First he turns himself into a hemlock needle and falls into the water bowl from which the Sky Princess is drinking. She swallows the hemlock needle and becomes pregnant. She soon gives birth to Raven Child. Raven Child grows very quickly and captures the heart of his grandfather. Raven Child wants to play with the golden ball that is hidden in the box, but Sky Chief won’t let him. After much begging, Sky Chief finally gives in and lets Raven Child play with the golden ball. As soon as Raven Child has the ball, he turns back into Raven and flys out through the smoke hole with the sun in his bealc He returns the sun to its rightful place in the sky. For this the people are grateful and always feed Raven salmon.
Raven is one of the most important mythological figures of the Tlinget people and some of the other tribes of the Pacific Northwest coast. There are many other tales told of Raven. He usually brings good things to the people, some of which are fire, the moon and stars, water and mountans, all of which I have represented on the totem pole that serves as Raven’s perch in this sculpture.