Bear Woman Story – #4 (1979-80)

Editor's note: in 1979, Dale and fellow artist Rie Muñoz were commissioned to create art for the newly-built school in Nondalton, Alaska in 1978. The following year the artists visited Nondalton and spent time there, gathering stories from villagers. Dale ended up producing twelve woodcut prints, culminating in her "Nondalton Legends" series, and Rie created seven silkscreen titles (and a few other lithographic prints in the subsequent years). Dale's Bear Woman Story and Rie's Woman Bear Legend silkscreen were remarkably similar despite not having collaborated together on their finished works.

Two women went up the mountain every day to snare ground squirrels. One woman got squirrels every day, but the other always stopped at a clearing, part way up the mountain, and ate berries all day long. Finally, one evening as the woman came down to the clearing with her day's catch of ground squirrels, she saw her partner on all fours eating berries. As she approached, she saw her partner turn into a black bear who ran off into the woods.

– told by Antone Evan; gathered and translated by Joan M. Tenenbaum

Part of the Nondalton Legends series; for more information, click here.

Original price: $100.00