This is an original wood block Nuu-chah-nulth / Cowichan artwork titled, “Qwiss-Toopsh” of a Pacific Northwest Orca Whale circa 1982 by renowned artist Art Thompson (Cowichan/Nuu-chah-nulth, 1948-2003). Art Thompson (Cowichan/Nuu-chah-nulth, 1948-2003) was born in 1948 in the village of Whyac on the southern end of Nitinat Lake and belonged to the Ditidaht Band of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nation. From an early age, he formed a strong connection to his culture after his initiation into the Tlukwalla society. A major turning point in his artistic life came in 1970 when he met fellow Nuu-chah-nulth artists Joe David and Ron Hamilton. Their influence deepened his understanding of West Coast art traditions. The artwork features a wonderfully and professionally crafted wood block print construction that shows a Pacific Northwest Tribal design of an orca whale called "Owiss-Toopsh." The artwork shows a raised watermark blind stamp and is marked on the artwork as follows: 52/100 - "Owiss-Toopsh" - AThompson 2/82 - Open Pacific Graphics. Art Thompson’s work can be found in many public collections including the Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec, the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, The Canadian High Commission in Singapore, and Stanford University in the United States. The condition of this framed wood block printed artwork is good with no obvious signs of damage and shows good overall condition. The measurements of this framed artwork is 20 1/4" x 26 1/4" and the visible artwork measures 14 1/4" x 19 3/4".