Back in 1983, I was commissioned by SEARHC (Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium in Juneau, Alaska) to create a poster design for their alcohol rehabilitation program – “Step Into the Light” – we hand-silkscreened an edition of 50 prints. – This image is a painting on a wooden box
I also did a version of this design into a full-size buttonrobe that SEARHC owns for their “Raven’s Way” program. Over the years, I have noticed other versions of this design that other artists have gladly used; I decided that I would do the same thing! I will be teaching my very first button robe class held on Vashon Island, Washington State and I am basing the class pattern on this original design. Like the designs of old, when they were good, there were versions of them done in a variety of mediums…by the original artist!
The design tells the story of the “Box of Daylight” where Raven “steals” each box from the chief of the Nass River (in B.C.) that holds the sun, moon and stars; Raven then opens each box and breaks light to the world.
This design shows Raven being the actual box; the lid of the box is open and it is simultaneously Raven’s head with the Sun coming out of the box. The chief is the profile face within the main body of Raven. Three potlatch rings are shown on his brow.
Drafting up the button robe pattern based on the original design – will be used as the pattern for a button robe sampler class I am teaching this coming weekend in Vashon, WA