Commissioned Ahtsik Native Wall Hanging on Way to Rye

A commissioned Ahtsik native wall hanging of carved wood is on its way to its buyers home in Rye. Artists Gordon Dick and Troy Rata of the Ahtsik Native Art Gallery on Vancover Island designed the sculpture over three months. No word on the name of the buyer.

Dick is a career artist and carver and also owns the gallery based out of Tseshaht traditional lands in Port Alberni, British Columbia. He creates artwork in the west coast style of the Nuu-chah-nulth and is a wood carver, jewelry maker, designer, and creator of large scale sculptures and architectural pieces.

Local media on Vancouver Island had the story:

"Port Alberni artists Gordon Dick, Troy Rata collaborate on carving
‘Sky Dancers’, in red cedar, heads to new home in New York

Artist Gordon Dick and apprentice carver Troy Rata have been working on a new work of art at Ahtsik Native Art Gallery, west of Port Alberni on Pacific Rim Highway.

‘Sky Dancers’, 40 inches in diameter and carved in red cedar, depicts a pair of eagles engaged in a courtship ritual where they lock talons and spiral downwards through the air together.

Lead artist and gallery owner Dick and Rata have been steadily working on the sculpture for three months. The design is Dick’s, and he carved it with Rata’s assistance, Dick explained. The piece was finished on Nov. 3, after the pair overcame several technical and design challenges.

“Every new project is a learning experience,” said Dick, whose artwork shows a strong sense of flow and harmony. ‘Sky Dancers’ is a commissioned piece that is now on its way to Rye, New York."

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