Sea Monster with Sea Lion Helper, c. 1980
by Bob Whonnock, Kwakwaka'wakw First Nation
red cedar, pigment
23.5" high x 22" wide x 9" deep
Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation Master Carver Bob (Robert) Whonnock was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia. He is an elder member of the Whonnock Family of artists including his brother Tom and nephew Sean. Their family crests are Sisiutl (Double Headed Sea Serpent) and Thunderbird.
In 1967, Bob was one of three carvers including master carvers Lloyd Wadhams Sr. and John Edward Neel, who created and carved the Coquitlam Columbian Centennnial Totem Pole at the Dogwood Pavillion Grounds in Coquitlam, British Columbia. This important totem pole was restored by Lloyd Wadhams Jr. in 2023, and rededicated to preserve its legacy.
In 1984, Bob and Lloyd Wadhams Sr. were commissioned to create a chalice for Pope John Paul II, and personally presented it to the Pope in a formal ceremony when the Pope visited Ottawa.
