Ancient Power

Preston Singletary (Tlingit)

“In Tlingit culture, numerous narratives revolve around the figure of Raven, whose journeys are integral to the formation of clans and tribal communities. These stories often explore themes of transformation and the interconnectedness between the realms of land, sea and air, as well as their inhabitants,” says Blue Rain Gallery owner Leroy Garcia.

Raven’s Adventure, blown and sand-carved glass, 13 x 24½ x 14”

An upcoming Blue Rain Gallery exhibition featuring the glass sculptures of Tlingit artist Preston Singletary dives deeply into the centuries-old story of Raven, an integral figure in Tlingit culture. Through his one-of-a-kind glass sculptures, Singletary examines the interconnected relationship between Raven and the Tlingit people.

Spirit Helper, blown and sand-carved glass, 9½ x 30 x 6”

“Raven is one of the central figures in Tlingit mythologies dating back since time immemorial—stories of how Raven stole the sun from an old man who was keeping it in a box in his clan house,” says Singletary. “Raven transformed into a human child and infiltrated the house and found the box s containing the sun. He was a white bird in those times, but was blackened by the soot when he pushed his way through the smoke hole in the roof of the clan house as he escaped with the daylight and brought it to the world. There are many stories of how Raven brought order to the world. Sometimes it was deliberate, and sometimes his actions failed! These actions end up benefiting human beings in one way or another.”

Because Singletary’s medium of glass sculpture is relatively new in the grand scheme of art history, he has received a great deal of attention for his work, and rightfully so. His sculptures instantly read as Singletary sculptures—smooth, sleek and vibrant, often with a translucent quality.

Too Powerful to Look At, blown and sand-carved glass, 22 x 19 x 6½”

The artist reflects on several of his new works in the forthcoming show at Blue Rain Gallery during Santa Fe Indian Market. Among these is Spirit Helper, which is based on a historic Canoe Prow figure and depicts a human in the process of transforming into a land otter. “In the old stories it was possible that people who drown or get lost in the woods could be captured by the land otter people, and they would transform these lost souls into land otters,” says Singletary. “These beings could appear as relatives of people and could coerce them into following them and then transform them into land otters.”

Ancestral Woman, blown and sand-carved glass, 20 x 17 x 17”

His blown- and sand-carved glass piece Too Powerful to Look At is based on an oystercatcher (a type of water bird) rattle—typically a healing rattle used by a shaman. “It would be used in a healing ritual to help heal an individual who was physically or even mentally ill,” says the artist. On one end is the oystercatcher and on the other is a mountain goat, “an animal who could navigate impossible steep mountain sides and was thought to reside up in the mystical realms where the Creator dwelled.” Singletary continues, “The feet of the oystercatcher are covering the eyes of a hawk (a symbol of power). In my own mythology around this rattle, the oystercatcher is covering the eyes to protect from scrutinizing the shaman’s powers. The idea that the shaman’s powers are his alone and not to be questioned. The figure on the back represents the shaman who is on a spirit journey in this composition.”

Singletary’s solo show, Raven Opened the Door to the Ocean, will be on view at Blue Rain Gallery’s Santa Fe location from August 16 to 31. An artist reception will be held August 16 from 5 to 7 p.m.