Killer Whale Chief

Preston Singletary and Raven Skyriver Collaboration
Bronze, limited edition of 10
19 H x 10 W x 7 inches

"Killer Whale Chief" is a bronze collaboration with artists Raven Skyriver that was originally made from hot glass. These forms are a blend of hot glass artistry and Tlingit formline design work.

Killer Whales are revered animals that are said to have descended from wolves in mythologies. Killer Whale was carved out of a cedar log by an ancient man named Natislane and was commanded to take revenge on his brothers in law who left him stranded on a small rock in the middle of the ocean.

Once Killer Whale executed this order he was instructed to never harm humans ever again. Killer whales are usually friendly to humans and have been said to aid them in seal hunting in old times. They are also thought to be deceased chiefs who have been reincarnated as Killer Whales

NCN Bronzes: The NCN Collective is a creative group of glass makers and Indigenous artists including Preston Singletary, Martin Janecký, Raven Skyriver, Kelly O’Dell, Charles Parriott, and Joe David. NCN stands for Nuu-chah-nulth, the tribe that Joe David comes from.

These limited edition bronzes From the NCN Collective are available exclusively from the Preston Singletary Studio, the Traver Gallery and Stonington Gallery.

Princess Mask

Preston Singletary and Martin Janecký Collaboration
Bronze, limited edition of 10
19 x 10 x 7 inches

This bronze is inspired by Princess Angeline who was Chief Seattle’s daughter, and created by Martin Janecký and Preston Singletary.

NCN Bronzes: The NCN Collective is a creative group of glass makers and Indigenous artists including Preston Singletary, Martin Janecký, Raven Skyriver, Kelly O’Dell, Charles Parriott, and Joe David. NCN stands for Nuu-chah-nulth, the tribe that Joe David comes from.

These limited edition bronzes From the NCN Collective are available exclusively from the Preston Singletary Studio, the Traver Gallery and Stonington Gallery.

Visions in the Fog

Bronze, Limited Edition of 18
35.5 x 11 x 7 Inches

Raven went to visit Petrel, it had been a long time since they’d seen each other. Raven once stole all of Petrel’s water from his natural spring where Petrel lived. Petrel retaliated by using his Fog hat to lock Raven in a dense fog. It was so disorienting that Raven was lost and could not find his way out for many days.

So, Raven went back to Petrel. He fooled Petrel by smearing Dog feces on Petrel’s behind as they slept through the night. Upon waking Raven told Petrel that he’s soiled himself in the middle of the night. Petrel flew away to clean himself up. While Petrel was away Raven spied the Fog hat, took it and left Petrel’s home.

Raven came upon a building and asked out loud, what is this place? A Flicker told Raven that this was an institution. What’s that, Raven asked. The Flicker told Raven of a time when they would send the Indian children there to try and convert them and make them white. Those who didn’t succeed perished or were killed and then buried in this meadow. Raven was confused because he saw no grave sites. Flicker said that was on purpose so that no one would know.

Raven suddenly felt the souls of all the children crying out and telling him of their story. Raven felt so sad that he vowed to avenge them. He placed the Fog Hat in the meadow where all the children were buried and imbued it with spirit and power. Now all who pass by the meadow are imbued with a haze of sorrow. Eventually someone investigated the site and found the remains of all the children. And now the people know what happened there.

Meditations With Fire

Bronze With Cast Glass Disc, Limited Edition of 12
38 X 12 X 7 inches

This is the Glass Blower totem. In the center you can see me holding a glass blowing pipe and riding a Killer Whale which is my crest symbol and represents my Tlingit family. We are nestled in an Octopus or Kraken which symbolizes the fluid nature of molten glass.

The bird figure toward the top is an Eagle which is the moiety that is my side of the Tlingit tribe. In between the Eagles wings represents my dearly departed friend Joe Benvenuto, who was my right-hand man and close friend for over 20 years. He is shown holding a basket. It’s safe to say that without Joe’s support and friendship during the development of my career I would not be where I am today as an artist.

The top glass piece represents the sun or fire which we know is part of what sustains our lives, and for glass blowers, creates the material that we all work with.

Wolf of the Sea

Bronze, Limited Edition of 18
20.5 x 10 x 7 inches

Killer Whale is sometimes referred to as “Wolf of The Sea”. In ancient history the Wolf and Killer Whale are closely related in their intelligence and mannerisms, as they are highly organized and hunt in packs.

An old story from the Nuu-Chah-Nulth tribe is that a supernatural white wolf transformed into a Killer Whale and is also my namesake that I share with Joe David, an elder and NW coast master artist from Vancouver Island. He shared this name with me in the Summer of 2000. My Tlingit roots come from the Kaagwaantaan, Box House and Killer Whale clan from Sitka Alaska.

Two Ravens

Bronze, Limited Edition of 12
35.5 X 12 X 7 inches

This totem represents the coming together of my Tlingit culture and my wife’s Swedish culture. It’s a sculpture that represents the blending of our lives together with our children. The top figure represents Åsa my wife, and directly below her on this sculpture is Odin, the Norse god flanked by two ravens at the front of a Swedish style long boat.

In Tlingit culture it would have been a dugout canoe. Below Odin is our daughter Lydia’s face and below her our son Orlo. He is holding our puppy, Ori our pet cockapoo, represented as a wolf in this sculpture.

Åsa and I have been married for over 25 years and our symbiotic relationship has fueled my creative inspiration over these years.

Raven's Lament

Bronze, Limited Edition of 12
37 x 14 x 8 inches
Image: Stonington Gallery

Raven returns to his home after a long journey. Instead of trees he finds tall buildings. Raven continues to travel to a beach where he finds a log that has washed out to sea and is cast back onto the beach.

The log is heavy with saltwater. It sits on the beach in the sunlight while the water, which is metaphorically grief, starts to leave the log. Raven is communing with the log as he gazes up at the tall buildings and tries to understand how the world has changed.

Kéet

Bronze, Limited Edition of 20
20 X 6 X 4 inches

“Kéet” is the Tlingit word for Killer Whale, which represents my main crest symbol, and the moiety of the Eagle on the top of the totem. The small figures are bears, which relate to the story of my great grandmother who, as a small girl, had a grizzly bear cub as a pet at the turn of the century in Sitka, AK.

Killer Whale Totem

Bronze, Limited Edition of 12
35 X 10.25 X 7.5 Inches

This totem pole shows Singletary’s clan crest (Killer Whale) in the center, his moiety (Eagle) on top, and a thunderbird in the center that represents David Svenson, the carver of the wooden pole and one of Singletary’s mentors.

The Thunderbird emerges from the mouth of the Killer Whale, which represents Svenson’s crest symbol. At the bottom is the Wolf design, the original moiety for the tribe, which was replaced by the contemporary depiction of an Eagle.

Natsline

Bronze, Limited Edition of 12
16 X 24.5 X 12 Inches

Natsline is the character from the story of the creation of the Killer Whale. He is the one who carved Killer Whale from a piece of wood and brought it to life to take revenge on his brothers in law who left him stranded on a rock in the middle of the ocean. With his knife he grabbed onto a piece of wood that was floating by and carved it into Killer Whale. He then instructed it to capsize the brothers in law’s canoe and to kill them. After this was carried out he instructed the Killer Whale to never harm man again. And it is the same today.

Killer Whale Totem

Bronze, Limited Edition of 10
106 X 33.5 X 22 Inches

This large pole shows Singletary’s clan crest (Killer Whale) in the center, his moiety (Eagle) on top, and a thunderbird in the center that represents David Svenson, the carver of the wooden pole and one of Singletary’s mentors.

The Thunderbird emerges from the mouth of the Killer Whale, which represents Svenson’s crest symbol. At the bottom is the Wolf design, the original moiety for the tribe, which was replaced by the contemporary depiction of an Eagle.

Hyacinth Medicine Amulet

Bronze, Limited Edition of 12
25.25 X 13 X 3 Inches

This bronze is based on the story on the relationship of the shaman to the land otter and is one of the most important connections that contribute to the shaman’s ability to heal the sick.

On this sculpture we see the land otter with the tail extending up and the complimentary silhouette of the shaman on the other side. The Amulet portion depicts the shape of a raven head and is an acknowledgement to the beautiful Amulets created by the renowned artist Joe David.

Raven Steals the Moon

Bronze, Limited edition of 12
28" x 8" x 8"

This bronze highlights the Tlingit origin story of Raven and his transformation of the world—bringing light to people via the stars, moon, and sun.

Gray Whale

Bronze, Limited Edition of 12
29 X 32 X 13.5 inches

Moon Medallion

Cast And Sand Carved Glass, Open Edition
8 X 8 Inches

Sun Medallion

Cast And Sand Carved Glass, Open Edition
8 X 8 Inches

Killer Whale Medallion

Cast Glass, Open Edition
12.75 X 10 X 4 Inches

Sun Mask

Cast Glass, Open Edition
7 X 7 Inches

Spirit Face

Cast Glass, Open Edition
4.5 X 6.5 X 1.5 Inches

Moon Mask

Cast glass, Open Edition
3.75 X 4 X 1.5 inches

Killer Whale Totem

Cast Glass, Open Edition
18 X 5.75 X 5.75 Inches

Raven Steals the Light (Sold out)

Bronze & Cast Glass, Limited Edition of 20
30 X 10 X 10 Inches

This bronze highlights the Tlingit origin story of Raven and his transformation of the world—bringing light to people via the stars, moon, and sun.

Woodcarver's Totem (Sold Out)

Bronze, Limited Edition of 12
25 X 6 X 6 Inches

At the top of this totem there is the pileated woodpecker. Next, is a human woodcarver with his tools flanked by woodworms. The bottom figure is a beaver with sapsuckers in the ears. In the back of the pole is a little bear, who rips up rotten logs for the woodworms to get into.

This totem is an homage to all the woodworkers on the NW coast. It was carved in wood by David Franklin, and cast in bronze by Bronzesmith in Prescott, AZ. One of the specialties of Bronzesmith is the color patinas that they use.

Killer Whale Totem (Sold Out)

Bronze, Wall Mounted, Limited Edition of 12
16.75 X 4.5 X 2 Inches

Killer Whale Totem (Sold Out)

Lead Crystal, Limited Edition of 125
18.25 X 6 X 4.5 Inches

Family Story Totem (Sold Out)

Bronze, Limited Edition of 10 (Sold Out)
102 X 28 X 18 Inches

​Woodcarver David Svenson assisted in creating a full-scale totem depicting a beloved family story about Preston’s great-grandmother as a child.

My uncles were out in the woods gathering food in Alaska and shot a bear, but what they didn’t know was that it was a mother bear that came in between the uncles and the cubs. They shot that bear and then they saw the cubs. They took those cubs back to the village.

My great grandmother lived in that village, her name was Susie Johnson. Susie was a child at this time and liked that bear cub that the uncles brought there. She wanted that bear cub as her pet. Her parents wanted her to be happy, so they let her keep the bear cub at home. She would get food for the bear and feed it and take care of it.

After a while the bear got big. Too big to keep around the house. The bear was getting too dangerous. So, her uncles took it back to the woods. They left that bear in the woods so it wouldn’t hurt anyone in the village.

Fog Woman (Sold Out)

Bronze, Limited Edition of 12
36.25 X 12.75 X 9 Inches

This limited edition bronze is based on the story of Fog Woman, which begins with Raven going to the Sky World and convincing Fog Woman’s father that they be allowed to marry. The father agrees and says that he should always treat his daughter with love and respect. However, as time goes by, Raven forgets his promise to love and cherish his wife, things get tougher and it is a time of famine.

Fog Woman starts to work on something with cedar bark, it takes her weeks to do this, and Raven yells at her for wasting time when they should to be looking for food. She tells him to be patient and in the end she makes the worlds first basket.

Fog Woman dips the basket in a stream and out of the basket are Salmon, which Raven eats. Fog Woman eventually decides to leave Raven and as she walks away from Raven she dissipates back into fog and returns to the Sky World.

Salmon (Sold Out)

Bronze, Limited Edition of 18
9 X 22 X 5.25 Inches

Eagle/bear Totem (Sold Out)

Bronze, Limited Edition of 12
25 X 4.5x 2.5 Inches

The Eagle Bear Totem (also the Killer Whale in the center) represents all the major clan symbols of my family. We are from the Eagle moiety, while the Killer Whale and Brown bear are my family’s clan symbols.

Raven and the Box of Daylight (Sold Out)

Bronze, Limited Edition of 12
34 X 10.75 X 7.25 Inches

This bronze represents the Tlingit origin story of Raven and his transformation of the world—bringing light to people via the stars, moon, and sun.

Whale & Eagle (Sold Out)

Bronze, Limited Edition of 12
8 X 13 X 18 Inches