FORM
Tulalip , Washington
A Burning Fire – Far From Petrified
he art of storytelling is fundamental to Native American culture — it is the continuous thread that weaves through thousands of years and hundreds of generations , tethering them together . For James Madison Pasiukes , it is his art that keeps those stories , the culture of his people , and the importance of honoring and caring for Mother Earth alive through wood , bronze casting , metal fabrication , blown and fused glass , stonework , graphic design , and more .
The journey that would become his dream job and lend him notoriety throughout the region and across the country began at his grandfather ’ s kitchen table when he was five years old . “ My dad and grandfather would sit me down , carve wood , and tell family and cultural stories , teaching me in the old traditional way ,” says James . As an artist from the Tulalip Tribes with a bloodline that includes Snoqualmie , Snohomish , Skykomish , Duwamish , Skagit , and Tlingit — from the Salish Sea all the way up into the mountains — James has a deep understanding
of the honor and responsibility in the messages conveyed in the pieces he creates .
Although the bulk of his success has come after the passing of his grandfather , Frank Madison Pasiukes , who crossed over to the heavens more than 20 years ago , James was able to share with him how he was using new mediums to pass on the stories Frank shared . “ I created a large bronze mask of Znoqua , a really tall , wild woman of the woods who feasts on children ,” says James . The story of Znoqua is shared by elders all the way up and down the West Coast to keep the young ones close to home , and one Frank loved to share .
“ My grandfather became really excited about how the mask turned out , and he kept raving about the bronze and how wild looking and realistic it was ,” says James . “ He said , ‘ this is our future ’ and that I needed to keep using new mediums ‘ to show that our culture and people are still alive and that we are not petrified .’” Those words planted themselves
38 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE