Alexander Swiftwater McCarty, Family Legacy
Alexander Swiftwater McCarty
Makah
Alternative Name
Alex McCarty
Date
2016
Medium Specific
Aquatint, drypoint, etching
Edition / State
27/30
Classification
Print
Dimensions
7 x 5 in. (17.8 x 12.7 cm)
Sheet: 10 x 8 in. (25.4 x 20.3 cm)
Sheet: 10 x 8 in. (25.4 x 20.3 cm)
Accession Number
2016.20.20.28
Credit
Gift of the Artist
Memo / Artist Statement
"Family Legacy" represents the importance of preserving and documenting ancestral heritage. I am the youngest great-grandson of Hishka, who was the last chief of the Waatch village, one of the five villages in Neah Bay, Washington. Hishka was a great Makah hunter and he taught my grandfather Jerry McCarty how to hunt whales and seals. Jerry was a master fisherman, canoe carver, and skilled singer and dancer and he passed this knowledge to my father, John Arthur McCarty. The work that I do is guided by the traditional ways of life of my ancestors and the teachings of my elders.
This sinuous print is a visual testament of the many generations of the wolf dance society that I come from. The wolf holding the glowing rock with great care and focus reminds me that I must also take great care of my family name and keep it polished and clean so that I can pass on an honorable legacy for my future generations.
This sinuous print is a visual testament of the many generations of the wolf dance society that I come from. The wolf holding the glowing rock with great care and focus reminds me that I must also take great care of my family name and keep it polished and clean so that I can pass on an honorable legacy for my future generations.
Biography
Alex McCarty is a member of the Makah Nation, a skilled artist, and teacher. He obtained his Bachelors in Visual Arts and Social Studies, and his Master in Teaching degree from the Evergreen State College. Alex is currently teaching printmaking in a Native American Studies program at Evergreen. His interest in art has catapulted him into the position of a modern-day preservationist: His cultural heritage influences his work and through his teachings, everything he knows about Native American art gets passed down.
Alex works in both contemporary and traditional mediums. He is always torn between traditional carving and printmaking. "Printmaking is a multi-step process and I see every printing session as an exploration," he explains. "It is always a surprise when I press the ink to the paper." Though making prints is not a traditional form, Alex uses traditional designs as the theme of those pieces.
Alex works in both contemporary and traditional mediums. He is always torn between traditional carving and printmaking. "Printmaking is a multi-step process and I see every printing session as an exploration," he explains. "It is always a surprise when I press the ink to the paper." Though making prints is not a traditional form, Alex uses traditional designs as the theme of those pieces.
Date of Bio
Inscription
edition, title, signature, date in pencil (front)