Framed Art Card - Transformation (Salmon)
Many of our ancient ancestor stories revolve around the theme of transformation. Sometimes early peoples were changed into rocks or geographical features. Other times, they were made into the form of animals that live in our environment. While these stories may seem far-fetched to some, we are able to witness real-life transformation in nature, today. From the change of seasons to the life phases of the butterfly, transformation surrounds us. For our people, though, the transformation of the sockeye salmon has always been one of the most significant.
A life cycle that begins in a small stream, ventures into a lake and meanders into the vastness of the ocean is capped off by one of nature’s great spectacles. As the sockeye salmon returns from its long journey, it somehow finds its way back to the river and stream of its birth. Upon entering fresh water, it begins to change. The outward appearance of the male is the most pronounced and startling as it develops a humped back, snarling teeth and grotesquely hooked snout. Rapidly, the silver school of salmon become a striking scarlet ribbon. They fight with one another and with the strong flow of the river to make their way upstream. After the long fight, they find a mate and spawn. The length and brutality of the struggle leaves the salmon spent. They have no choice but to succumb to their death. All is not lost, though, as the salmon carcasses that line the banks of the rivers and streams sustain the local wildlife population. The transformation is complete and the life cycle continues....
When I was drawing this image, I couldn’t help but think about the human analogy: men whose bodies change while looking for a mate. They enter a bar with puffed out backs, snarling teeth and grotesquely pumped arms. They sometimes fight and brawl to seek the admiration of a woman. Sadly, this sometimes works and the life cycle continues....
(9" x 12")
