One for the arty types on my flist...

[ash48]

Can someone tell me if this is an art "style". If this mural is perhaps homaging an artist or style of art?

There's just something about the way these totem poles are painted, the wing in the top right corner, the foliage snaking its way up the wall, the colour of the background etc. that makes me feel this isn't some random choice. I feel like I love it because it reminds me of something.





Sorry it's not a better capture. We don't get a better shot of that wall - though it features in the background in many of the shots (just not very clearly).


And if you think I've become obsessed......then... darn tootin'! I figure if I'm going to do something then I may as well be thorough about it. (I promise I'll shut up when I'm done... )

Comments

[tiggeratl1.livejournal.com]

Just saw this and my first thoughts were that it was possibly an homage to the Pacific Northwestern Native American's around Concrete, Washington. I did a quick view through of that epi. and noticed that Dean passes another hotel right before his 'wish decides to show up again' :P and that hotel is named 'The Chieftain Hotel' and the hotel the boy's are staying in is 'The Tall Totem Lodge' so there's a Native American theme going on me thinks. While we don't get a better view of the mural on the wall, I'm thinking that the thunderbird totem in the background could be a clue. Some tribes view the Thunderbird as an omen of war. When quaking peals of thunder rattle the heavens, it's a sign the spirits are warring in the skies. So it could be a subtle reminder of the battle between Heaven and Hell that was going on in season 4... or not. :) /geekfest.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

This is brilliant. Thank you!

I thought that said "Tall Totem Lounge"? So it says lodge? That changes things a bit. I have the hotel name as The Chieftain Hotel.

There's definitely a Native American theme going on. I've looked up all sorts of theme paintings and styles. I did come across something close from a Canadian artist. But she's not credited with painting it so I figure it's not hers (I'm sure they would have to credit her...?)

I love your explanation of the totem. That's awesome!! I might even include that in my post if that's ok with you. :))

<33

[tiggeratl1.livejournal.com]

I just got home so I double checked WT real quick and...

Here's Dean passing 'The Hotel Chieftain'




Sam entering their room at the Tall Totem Lodge



and the Tall Totem Lodge placecard on top of the fridge in the boys room



(I'm sure they would have to credit her...?)
I'm surprised the artist (whomever they were) wasn't clearly named. If the article was about the Canadian artist maybe the writer assumed that the art being on the article was enough to designate that the artist had made it? IDK *shrug*

I love your explanation of the totem. That's awesome!! I might even include that in my post if that's ok with you. :))
:D Thank you! That's just my geek showing ;P and of course you can use it if you'd like hun. I found it here if you'd like to check it out. /geekfest pt.II :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Ah yes.. I have those screen caps. (They will be featured in the up coming picspam *g*). I have to say I just assumed it said lounge (as in the bar area) and not lodge. It's weird that they stay in a hotel called The Chieftain and then in an area in the hotel called a lodge. I will make the correction on the picspam. Thanks for the catch. :DDD

I'm only making an assumption about the artist. I can't for the life of my find the painting now but when I do I'll show you and you can see what you think. :)

Hee... /fellowgeek. :)

[tiggeratl1.livejournal.com]

I think Hotel Chieftain is just another hotel in Concrete and Dean is walking past it. If you watch Sam entering their room in the epi. you can see that the sign on the wall behind him is the name of the hotel (Tall Totem Lodge) with an arrow pointing the way to the lobby of the hotel and a drawing of the wing of a thunderbird totem in view over Sam's right shoulder. The placecard on the fridge with the hotel's name maybe corroborates that. I'm not 100% on that though, just a thought.



Oh and I forgot to geek about this in my other post but, the blogger (Avia Venefica) also had another intriguing Native American view of the Thunderbird that could have been the inspiration for it's use on SPN. The Eagle is often a Native American symbol that represents the Thunderbird. Stories are told that the Thunderbird (in the form of the Eagle) wages constant battle with a massive water Serpent. This horned Serpent is said to be quite nefarious and bodes ill-will against humankind.

The Thunderbird dives into the waters, seeking out the serpent to vanquish it from the Great Lakes in order to protect humans. The battles between the Eagle (Thunderbird) and the Serpent results in raging waters and brewing storms.

This interpretation could mean the use of the Thunderbird totem on the show was a major hint of where the story arch was headed. Of the expected battle that was coming between Michael and Lucifer and maybe even Sam and Dean's roles in the battle.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Ah yes! Absolutely. I'll take another close look, but I think you are right re the hotel. :)

And how awesome is all that info on the Thunderbird. I am really curious about all this now. rhymephile also has info (comment below) - so there's some interesting stuff here. :DD

This is the painting I found. (http://www.patriciabanks.ca/images/pictures/island%20memories.jpg) I wouldn't say it's exactly the same, but there is a similarity I think - not enough to say it was by the same artists or that it homages her.

Thanks honey.
xx

[tiggeratl1.livejournal.com]

That does look really similar.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey look! I found the actual hotel (http://www.chieftainhotel.com/index.html)

:DD

[tiggeratl1.livejournal.com]

Hee! That's awesome and looks a heck of a lot more swank that the boys hotel!!

Oh yeah, just wondering if you know about supernaturallocations.com? It's an interesting site for spn geeks well informed fans. :)