Carved Eagle Head c. 1937

Lucille Chabot made this Carved Eagle Head, probably from a piece of wood she found. I love how you can still see the tool marks, it shows the artist's hand and the labor involved. There is a roughness to the piece, a tactile quality. The eagle isn't smooth and perfect, it's got these splintery bits sticking out, like it's still part of the tree. The surface is dry, matte, and you can almost feel the texture of the wood, the way it might catch on your skin. Look at the eye, carved with such simple, direct gouges, it's almost comical, but also intense. It really makes you think about how we see and what we choose to represent. It reminds me of some folk art I've seen, artists who are self-taught, carving and painting with whatever materials they can find, making something powerful out of nothing. Art is an ongoing conversation and I think this piece adds to that.