Manitous: Kevin and Tanner Gadomski's Ojibway Animal Totemsarthaus

Kevin Gadomski pays homage to the Native American heritage of his children with these animal totem sculptures. They are called Manitous, from the Ojibway word meaning spirit or mystery. The sculptures portray a variety of animals — from birds of prey to bears, deer, and wild cats — and the artist keeps in mind the unique talents and spiritual powers which the Ojibway believe each animal possesses.

Gadomski makes these Manitous with the help of his son, Tanner, and other artists, and he has been making them for nearly 20 years. Each work is made from a wide range of materials, including wood, fur, leather, feathers, and beads. The beautiful painting and detail that goes into each piece is amazing. These handmade, limited edition sculptures are available to buy on the artist’s Etsy shop, Freedom Gallery.

Deer

Goldfinch

Grizzly Bear

Lame Fox

Otter

Painted Turtle

Peregrine Falcon

Wood Duck

Tom McMeekin

Tom is a writer, artist, and multi-media guru from Pennsylvania, U.S. He holds a Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication, but he has also taken several university-level courses in fine arts, art appreciation, graphic design, printmaking, and Asian art. He has been blogging for Monde Mosaic since February 2014.