Boo-Qwilla, Native American totem pole at Stanford University, United States
Boo-Qwilla is a tall cedar sculpture carved with stacked figures that stands in Dohrmann Grove on Stanford's campus. Multiple painted layers depict indigenous designs and symbols typical of Pacific Northwest carving traditions.
Artist Art Thompson, a Kwakiutl artist, created and placed the sculpture in 1995 as an addition to Stanford's collection. The work represented a moment when universities began recognizing indigenous artistic voices in their public spaces.
The carvings tell stories about kinship and tribal identity through symbols specific to Pacific Northwest indigenous peoples. These visual narratives served as records of family bonds and community belonging that remain important to indigenous cultures today.
The sculpture sits in Dohrmann Grove, a wooded section of campus that is easily reached on foot from central areas. The site is freely accessible at any time during campus hours, though it remains exposed to weather and seasonal changes.
The surface received a full restoration in 2013 with repainting to recover original colors that had faded over years of exposure. This conservation effort demonstrates the ongoing work needed to maintain indigenous art in outdoor settings.
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