Called “Dreamwork of the Whales,” this masterpiece was raised by 300 volunteers on October 13, 1981!
TORONTO: Little Norway Park, situated at the southwest corner of Bathurst Street and Queens Quay near Billy Bishop airport, is a gem of a hideaway right smack in the middle of downtown Toronto. It boasts of a unique magnificent totem pole called “Dreamwork of The Whales.”
Usually on my walk on the Toronto Harbourfront on Queen’s Quay, I normally end at Bathurst, but a few days ago, what with time on my hands, I decided to go ahead farther and came across a marvelous totem pole with plenty of intricate work on it. Try as I might I could not find a plaque to explain this astounding piece of art.
When I got home I decided to look it up and found that not much is written on it.
This creative work was conceived and modelled by a number of Toronto-born artists living in Vancouver who were members of Ne Chi Zu Works, a name derived from a Nootka tribe phrase meaning: “To see yourself through the eyes of another.”
The first creative seed was planted in late 1979 when two of the artists were back home in Toronto and visited the new Harbourfront Contemporary Art Gallery. While viewing the exhibit, they were overheard commenting about the quality of the art on display by an American artist: “We’ve got better Canadian artists than this, why aren’t they showing some of their stuff?” The gallery manager struck up a conversation, and before long the two artists left with a cheque for the seed money to get the project started!
After several months of planning and fundraising, a 700-year-old cedar tree was chosen from Squamish in British Columbia and transported to Toronto.
In 1980, under the conceptual genius of Georgana Malloff and the expert hands of principal designers and sculptors Ben Barclay, Julian Bowron, Lynn Daly, Daniel Gauvin, Earl Tomlinson and a few others it was transformed into the spectacular marvel one beholds today. It was raised by 300 volunteers on October 13, 1981.
No, there are no whales in Lake Ontario that I know of but the 40-foot pole does depict whales and other forms of life, including humans, deer, fish and something resembling Sasquatch. As mentioned before, there is no plaque mentioning the meanings of the carvings but it sure seemed to be a deep interpretation of the interactions between several forms of life. It would certainly help if the City put a few plainly visible plaques around regarding its history and design.
Not only will you find some peace and quiet but you will also immerse yourself into some astounding art, so do go check it out!
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I was there the day they raised that totem pole. Have 4 pictures and let me tell you Toronto sure has changed!