For Victoria’s John Livingston, being asked to restore a pair of B.C. totem poles at Stanford University was a big honour.
That said, the master carver contends this city ought to pay more attention to restoring its own totems — including one at Centennial Park that’s literally rotting away.
“There’s eight to 10 poles in Victoria that should have an ongoing maintenance regime. It’s not huge money,” Livingston said Friday.
Livingston and his wife, First Nations artist Maxine Matilpi, recently spent a week helping restore two outdoor totem poles at Stanford University’s campus south of San Francisco.
One six-metre pole, Boo-Qwilla, is by the late Victoria carver Art Thompson and was installed in 1995. The other, a 13-metre pole titled The Stanford Legacy by Cloverdale carver Don Yeomans, dates to 2002.
Livingston was originally the assistant carver for both totem poles. He and Matilpi completely repainted both in their original colours, using paints approved by each artist’s estate. University staff also cleaned the poles, treated them against insects and applied special protective top coats.
Two years ago, Livingston and his wife did restoration work on Victoria’s best-known totem, the 40-metre pole in Beacon Hill Park. While Livingston applauds the funding of this, he says the City of Victoria must take care of other totem poles under its jurisdiction as well.
Livingston identified at least half a dozen poles in the city that require restoration. The most dilapidated pole, carved by James Dick, is at Centennial Park (at the east side the Laurel Point Inn). A gift from B.C.’s First Nations, the totem pole was erected in 1971 to mark the province’s centenary.
It is intended to be a “welcome figure” with outstretched arms.
“I think one of the arms is missing, or both arms,” Livingston said. “The top is starting to rot out.”
He met with city staff last year to discuss totem-pole restoration. However, no work has yet been done on the pole. Livingston said it likely requires $10,000 worth of repairs.
The life expectancy of totem poles is typically 40 or 50 years. With proper maintenance, this lifespan can almost double, said Livingston, who regularly does totem restorations in Duncan, Vancouver, Seattle and elsewhere.
“If they’re treated well and you respect them, they’re going to last and people can appreciate them.”
Livingston was taught to carve totem poles in the 1970s by Tony Hunt and Henry Hunt. His artworks, which include masks and wall panels, are in collections throughout North America. He is known as an expert in the appraisal and restoration of old First Nations artworks from the Pacific Northwest.
Livingston estimates Yeomans’ totem pole at Stanford is worth about $180,000, while Thompson’s is worth about $100,000.
He says the northern California university’s appreciation of First Nations art is reflected by its prominent placement on campus. The totem poles sit near outdoor sculptures by such titans of the art world as Alexander Calder and Auguste Rodin. “These poles stand amongst all of this. There’s a Calder standing about 30 feet from one. It’s really great to see,” Livingston said.
