Carolyn Bernard Young
Weatherford, TX
In my beautiful studio, grateful every day for doing what I love in a place that feeds my soul.
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A totem pole for your wall, this ceramic collage is made of stoneware shards mounted to a poplar “stick”. The shards are covered with black slip, then carved in the sgraffito technique. Color is carefully inlaid before it is fired to 2167 degrees F. Finally the shards are mounted to a poplar “stick”, with bumpers at the bottom to protect your wall.
Click here to read more about my totem sticks and the inspiration behind them.
So what do these totems mean?
Buffalo – The buffalo was vital to Native Americans as they provided food, shelter, clothing, tools, bedding and other essentials. As a spirit animal, the buffalo is known for abundance, gratitude and community.
Diamond pattern – The diamond or half-diamond pattern represents the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. It pays homage to the diamond back rattle snake and symbolizes our respect for nature. Rattlesnakes were important to the ancient Choctaw farmers because they ate small varmints that threatened the corn crops. When the diamond appears in a border, such as on Choctaw clothing, it is meant to represent a pathway.
Hand – The hand includes the creative spiral and represents the hand of the artist.
Horse – As a spirit animal, the horse represents power, service, and freedom. Hernando DeSoto brought Spanish mustangs to the New World in the 1500s, and the Choctaw Pony (link: https://returntofreedom.org/what-we-do/sanctuary/our-horses/choctaw-herd/) is a descendant of those magnificent creatures. The Choctaw people were dependent upon them for hunting parties and they carried many on the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma from our homeland in Mississippi.
Spiral – The spiral is the most used symbol in the world. It is used by virtually every culture in some manner. For most North American tribes it symbolizes the life force, one’s personal path, or the creative spirit.
Ready to hang
Ready to hang with a D hook on the back. Perfect for that slice of wall next to a door or window but would be beautiful in a grouping as well.
Handcrafted by the artist, personally
Supplies hand picked from the best US suppliers
Card explaining totems included
Exclusively featured here – you won’t find anywhere else
27 x 6 x 1″, stoneware, slips, mounted on poplar
©Carolyn Bernard Young
- Subject Matter: Native American totems
- Collections: Totem Sticks
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