Kaa Shaayí
Creating Connections: Art, Community, Heritage
2023 Ancestral Spirits Mural
In early 2023, Kevin Lee commissioned artist Kaa Shaayí to paint a Tlingit orca mural on his Ferndale location car wash. Kevin has owned Kevin’s Car Wash for nine years which is located in Ferndale by the Nooksack river bridge on Main Street. The Ferndale Arts Commission administered the mural project as part of the Downtown Mural Project and both the Arts Commission and Lee contributed funds to the project.
The 43′ wide mural is titled “Ancestral Spirits” and depicts an orca whale and eagle in Tlingit formline style design. Both Kaa Shaayí and Lee are enrolled Tlingit Alaska natives. Kaa Shaayí originates from Ketchikan, Alaska, and Lee is from Sitka, Alaska. The mural was completed in early July. Kaa Shaayí hopes to collaborate with other local Native artists to do additional mural work in the surrounding area.