Your Cart is Empty
"X̱áat Héeni Eeti (Salmon River Rewired)" by Weidaaka Yoodoohaa (Bill Pfeifer, Jr)
24 x 36 inches
UV reactive acrylic on canvas
$1500
Artist Statement:
X̱áat Héeni Eeti (Salmon River Rewired) comes out of my interest in how formline can carry motion, light, and energy without losing its structure. Fall in the Pacific Northwest is defined by the salmon run, and I wanted this piece to feel like that moment—fast water, bright color, and the sense that everything is moving at once. Parts of the design are built to look like neon tubes, and I used UV reactive paint so the piece actually glows under black light. That glow is intentional: it’s a way of showing the charge and urgency of the salmon returning upriver. My work is rooted in Tlingit formline, but I’m always pushing color and lighting forward, treating the surface almost like a lit environment. This piece is about the river, the run, and the energy that comes with the Fall season.
About the Artist:
Bill Pfeifer, Jr. (Wéidaaká Yóodóohaa) is a Tlingit artist working in formline design across carved wood panels, painted canvases, and digital rendering. His practice focuses on clean structure, accurate formline, and the technical side of how light and color behave on a surface. Pfeifer often builds his compositions in a custom digital environment he developed to test lighting, glow effects, and motion before moving to physical materials. His carved work emphasizes traditional tool marks and depth, while his painted pieces explore high contrast palettes, neon style highlights, and UV reactive elements. Based in Western Washington, he teaches formline fundamentals and works to make the design system accessible to new learners. Pfeifer exhibits throughout the region in juried shows, cultural centers, and community events. His work reflects a balance between Tlingit design logic and contemporary visual language, with a focus on salmon, water, and seasonal cycles.
