Rande Cook’s Totem Pole Installed in Its Permanent Home
Rande Cook’s totem pole has been permanently installed outside the Museum Volkenkunde Leiden in the Netherlands. Looks amazing!
Rande Cook Attends Official Exhibition Opening in the Netherlands
Rande Cook returned to the Netherlands to attend the official unveiling and exhibition opening of “The Story of the Totem Pole” an interactive exhibition at the Museum Volkenkunde Leiden. The central element of the exhibition, which exhibits first nations traditions of the American Pacific Northwest and Canada, is the massive 8-meter thunderbird and orca totem pole designed by Cook and completed by him, along with a core team of fellow Kwakwaka’wakw carvers and painters. This is the first and only totem pole in the Netherlands. The opening was commemorated by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet and included opportunities to share traditional costumes and dances with attendees. See more photographs of the events and exhibition here.
Totem Pole’s Thunderbird Brings Rain to the Netherlands
Rande and his team are now in Leiden, completing and installing the first ever totem pole in the Netherlands for the Museum Volkenkunde. Rande reports:
I put the wings on kwanusila today, he came alive!!
Thunder and lightening all over holland now!!He has awakened… 😉
Rande Cook Tapped to Carve First Totem Pole in the Netherlands
THE SKIN I’M IN featured artist Rande Cook has been commissioned to carve what will be the Netherlands’ first and only totem pole for the Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden. See photos and videos of the carving progress on the Museum Volkenkunde website or in the U’mista Cultural Society Facebook album.