“Oh No, Not Again!”
Sitka Spruce
7 feet high by 6 feet wide
Weight 1000 pounds
FEATURE PRICE: $12,500
McVay’s inspiration for “Oh No, Not Again!” came from reading accounts of early European explorers who encountered the Makah whalers in the 1700 and 1800s. In the early 1900s, Edward S. Curtis documented them in his photos. And historians described them as “brave & canny hunters, barely clad as they went onto the frigid Pacific waters to hunt the Grey whale”.
Once a whale was spotted, the chase was on! As the hunters paddled furiously, the harpooner stood at the ready in the front of the canoe. When they came up on the side of the whale, the harpoon was thrown and when hit, the fight would last for many hours. The floats helped to fatigue the whale so the hunters could finally tow it to shore. A whale could feed the whole village for a long time. This was never easy. Sometimes the whale would pull them far out to sea for days. And sometimes, the giant whale tail could smash their fragile boat and they would never be seen again.
And… sometimes the whale would win… and other times, it would be the Whalers. This artwork portrays that drama. “Oh No, Not Again!” could be the whale speaking – or the whalers – or both!
The sculpture, “Oh No, Not Again!” is carved from a single 4′ thick, 6′ wide, 7′ tall block of salvaged Sitka Spruce. This wood was destined to be chipped up to make paper pulp… now that would have been a shame! This coastal wood has the highest tinsel strength of any wood in North America. It is famous for supporting the wings of the world’s largest wooden airplane, the Spruce Goose, built by Howard Hughes.
For inquiries on purchasing McVay’s works, please contact ART@POINTRUSTON.COM