Wayne Alfred is a member of the Namgis Tribe of the Kwakwaka'wakw people. As a master carver he has an extremely high level of carving skill and knowledge about his peoples cultural objects, customs, tribal stories and legends. The Totem Poles of the North Pacific Coast in British Columbia and Alaska are traditionally carved out of red or yellow cedar, which has a spiritual and practical purpose. The wood was known for its durability, its resistance to rotting and the inner bark was utilised in ropemaking, clothing, hats, baskets and so forth. The Kwakitul People consider the cedar tree to be among the most sacred of all things provided by the Creator. They believed the Cedar tree to be the axis of the world and a pathway to the upper world. The wood is shaped using implements such as adzes, axes, chisels, carving knives, and chainsaws. Misinterpreted as Gods and idols to be worshipped, totems usually serve six purposes, such as a house pillar for support, a memorial or mortuary pole to commemorate (and house) the deceased, a potlatch pole (used for important traditional indigenous celebrations), a ridicule pole used to shame and a heraldic or family crest pole. Characters and symbols on these totem poles usually display family crests, history, wealth, social rank, inheritance, and privilege, as well as animalistic imagery derived from native animals and mythological creatures. Their sequence are indicative of past family events, ancestors, myths, and heraldic crests, with the bottom figure usually being the most prominent. In this work the 'thunderbird' is symbolic of power, strength and of ancestory. The Commonwealth Games Totem Pole was presented to the people of Nillumbik on behalf of the Canadian Government in recognition of Melbourne as the hosts of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games Team in 2006. Carved in cedar wood, this totem pole incorporates bold cuts and colours (such as red and green) offset by strong black. A relative degree of realism is used to depict the alligator located on the bottom of the pole, a man and a 'thunderbird'/eagle located on the top. With protuding element. No inscriptions. Bold cuts used to outline the characters and symbols as well as decorative and stylised features all over the pole. public art, kwakwaka'wakw, namgis, alfred, north pacific coast, british columbia, canada, totem pole, carved, commonwealth games, melbourne festival, cedar

Born: Yorkshire, England 1850; Arrived Australia: before 1874; Died: 1908RealismLedger Gift, 1975Rural landscape setting with horse, dogs and a figure heading towards a house. Gold brushed grey painted frame.Recto: Signed “J A Turner / 1889” in black paint l.l.c of composition; Not titledlandscape, figure, animals, house, colonial, trees, australian art

Born: Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland 1877; Arrived Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1878; Died: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1906RealismGift of Mrs J.O. Wicking, 1975Portrait with short hair, dark clothes and a dark background. Gold brushed timber frame.Recto: Not signed; Not dated; Not titledpainting, portrait, face, eyes, colonial

Born: The Hague, Netherlands 1861; Arrived: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1888; Died: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 1941RealismGift of Mr Gordon S. Ross, 1978Interior of shearing shed with figures, shears, animals and wool. Copper coloured gesso frame.Recto: Signed "J. H. Scheltema" in brown oil in l.l.c of composition; Not dated; Not titledpainting, interior, shed, shearing, sheep, figures, animals, wool, farm