Title: Sit in a canoe and pull the river beside you
Artist: Leon Rogers
Wooden Paddle. Tupelo and redcedar.
Artist Statement: Wood has long been a gateway to how we access water, from wooden cups to barrels to wooden ships. The paddle at one time was a primary means of transport and communication over bodies of water. While the oldest known paddles date back only about 10,000 years, the presence of more ancient stone-age artifacts on scattered islands suggests humans have been paddling for a very long time, using wood to travel across water. In my own experience paddling I have often experienced a relative shift in perception, realizing I am holding still in a canoe and pulling water along beside be. Moments of paddling rough water certainly feel like pulling the whole length and breadth of a river to get home. I chose the material for this paddle to reflect the close nature of water and wood, using two timbers known for their ability to grow in low water and swamps; tupelo and redcedar. The name “tupelo” comes from the Muscogee (Creek) words ito (tree) and opilwa (swamp). The genus name Nyssa references the Greek water nymphs. Redcedar has been used for many traditional woodcrafts in the Pacific Northwest, including lightweight and rot resistant canoes.