Gyaangee: Beyond Being Silenced 2022
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Robert Davidson, Terri-Lynn Williams Davidson, and Sara Florence Davidson
Directed by Charles Wilkinson and Tina Schliessler
Streaming, 14 mins
Middle School - General Adult
Art History; Indigenous Peoples
Date Entered: 12/13/2022
Reviewed by Jasmine Smith, Reference & Instruction Librarian, Alvernia UniversityGyaangee: Beyond Being Silenced is short, but its brief run time is impactful. Although it is the sequel to a related full-length documentary, Gyaangee: Beyond Being Silenced is a complete short film. It provides all the information and context necessary to stand alone.
Gyaangee captures the full process of totem pole creation. The viewer sees how a pole is crafted, from drafting, to carving, to finishing touches. We see Robert Davidson and his workshop engaging in each step of the process. The film also succinctly explores the iconology of the totem pole figures and their meaning in the Haida culture, as well as what the figures and composition mean to the artist personally.
This short film is highly recommended for middle school and older. It is a brief but well-crafted introduction to the art and meaning of the totem pole.
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