In many cultures, particularly of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, totems are sacred objects that symbolize spiritual beings; sometimes, they carry familial histories of certain clans.

In this show, artist Rai Cruz navigates through the different meanings and representations that we can take from building modern totems. Through the incorporation of folk images and rough application of brushstrokes, Cruz illustrates a third world urban setting; a narrative of what lies in his environment---images that are pieced together resembling how residential houses are often constructed predominantly in marginalized areas and informal settlements.

By crafting these works, Cruz also brings to the fore, certain inquisitions on the definition of what can be called as an artist’s work. Should it be limited to what the artist touches with his bare hands? How far should we allow the contribution of machines and other reinforcements in production? The artist carefully opens a conversation for a subject that is often discussed in the shadows of the art scene: the existence of art technicians, fabricators, and mass production. Hence, “Crafted Totem” also becomes a catalyst for the many important things we often ignore or decide to keep in our peripheries.

-Gwen Bautista