THE WOLF YOU FEED
Narrative excerpt: 1st March 1872
‘The cold stillness of the air prickles my skin like a cactus, and I have a sensation of being watched, an observed specimen in the half-light. Now, a pair of glowing eyes shine and glint in the shadows, and the gray wolf looms suspiciously, assessing my every breath. The chipmunk at his feet is blissfully oblivious to the imminent peril of his situation; he who never tests his shackles is unaware that he is chained. Which wolf will prosper? The wolf you feed.’ – A.S.
INSPIRATION
The Wolf You Feed draws inspiration from a wide range of sources. The central motif was first inspired by the incredible dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and recognises the extirpation and near-extinction of the gray wolf from the United States due to a program fuelled by human prejudice and fear. The titular phrase within the design references an ancient Cherokee legend; every man has two wolves fighting inside of him. One is angry, greedy and resentful, while the other is kind, peaceful and loving. Which wolf will win? The wolf you feed. The date set in stone within this design, 1872, represents the creation of Yellowstone National Park, an event which has had a huge impact on the reintroduction of the wild gray wolf.
A CLOSER LOOK
This design features several references to fraktur folk art including the amalgam of Saguaro and other cacti species growing on each side of the central frame. Many of the details were inspired by the art of fraternal societies, re-purposed to represent a reverence for nature, from the Eye of Providence, to the golden fleece and the pillars of strength. Nineteenth century, hand painted parcheesi boards provided references for many of the pattern details, while the plight of the naïve chipmunk alludes to a second, pertinent legend.
