Raven Notecards

The most important of all creatures to the Northwest coast Indian peoples was the Raven. He took many forms to many peoples -- the Transformer, the cultural hero, the trickster, the Big Man. Full of magical powers, the Raven could transform himself into anything. He put the sun in the sky, the fish in the sea, the salmon into the rivers. His antics were often motivated by greed, and he loved to tease, to cheat, to woo, and to trick.

Marvin Oliver, of Quinault and Isleta-Pueblo heritage, was one of the leading contemporary printmakers and sculptors in the Pacific Northwest. Over his long career, Oliver worked in a variety of media including cedar, bronze, steel and glass. His efforts and artwork have been instrumental in the development and recognition of Native American Contemporary Fine Art. Born in 1946, Marvin Oliver passed away in 2019.

This notecard is a replica of an original limited edition silk-screen serigraph created by Marvin Oliver in 1987. "Moon dancing" depicts Raven standing on the rocky shore gazing at his embossed reflection in the water. The design is created in the Northwest Coast style.