In Formation
Description:
Print Method: Giclée
Edition: 99
Released: May 2012
The life cycle of the sockeye salmon never ceases to amaze me. Starting out their lives in streams and lakes as alevin, fry and parr, they eventually make their way downstream in formation to the grand ocean. It is here where they spend the next number of years traveling. Most sockeye will journey several thousand kilometers in formation before returning to their home streams. During this time, they will eat large amounts of orange krill which will colour the meat of the salmon, giving the sockeye its distinctive internal hue.
Somehow, their biology decides when the sockeye is to return home. Through their sense of smell and information locked away in their brains, they journey back to the exact same river system that they were born into. It is at this time that they start to line up in formation. They have waited all their lives for this moment. Their sleek silver bodies start to transform. This is especially true for the males: their backs develop a hump, their teeth get larger and their noses become increasingly hooked. As they move into the freshwater of the river, their skin starts to get more and more transparent, such that their bright orange flesh imparts a crimson hue to the returning sockeye.
It is upriver that the sockeye finds its mate. Driven by information, they have returned to their place of origin and will pass on this information to the next generation of sockeye. The female deposits eggs which are fertilized by her mate. Soon after spawning--spent from their great journey--the pair of sockeye will perish and their life cycle will be complete. Their eggs will become alevin which will become fry which will become parr and smolts and they will once again move in formation to a new life.
“In Formation” is a limited edition print using the giclée method of printmaking. This print was released in May of 2012 and printed by Andy Everson at Copper Canoe, the artist’s own studio in Comox B.C. A total of 109 prints bear the title "In Formation” and are signed by Andy Everson: 99 in the primary edition bearing the numbers 1/99 through 99/99; 9 Artist’s Proof; and 1 Printer’s Proof. The acid-free Moab Entrada 100% cotton rag paper measures 17x22 inches. Image size measures about 11.25x19.5 inches.
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Indigenous Woman-Owned
Totem Design House is a proudly Indigenous-owned and operated lifestyle brand founded by Haida and Cree entrepreneur Erin Brillon. From our studio on K’ómoks First Nation territory, we create products that blend traditional stories with modern design. Every purchase directly supports Indigenous artists, cultural revitalization, and sustainable business practices.
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About Our Artists
Our designs are created by award-winning Indigenous artists, including Andy Everson of the K’ómoks First Nation & Jesse Brillon of the Haida & Cree Nations. Each piece carries a story — celebrating our connection to the land, the ocean, and our ancestors. When you shop Totem Design House, you’re supporting real artists and helping to keep Indigenous traditions alive.