Alaskan Masks

Masks are a tradition in many cultures, and I am going to be highlighting the masks made in Alaska. Most hand-made masks by Alaskan Natives represent the spirit of animals in a human form, and they were used during ceremonies. Interestingly a majority of masks were usually used once.


 North Wind Mask (Negakfok), Alaska, Yup'ik, early 20th century, wood and feathers (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Above is a mask located in Good News Bay, Alaska, called the North Wind Mask created in the 20th century. It was made using drift wood, baleen, feather, paint, and cotton twine. I believe this is a mix of a whale and birds, because of the the whale tail and fins, and the feathers. A sound of wind was created by the dangling pieces of wood at the bottom of the mask. The white dots around the mask are assumed to be specks of snow. I love the creativity in this piece, I especially admire the chimes at the bottom. 

“Eskimo medicine man and sick boy” from the Library of Congress

Above is an image of a Shaman healing a little boy that is ill from 1900-1930. The color of the masks is unknown, but the display is amazing. On the bottom right corner you can see the caption, "Eskimo Medicine Man, Alaska. Exorcising Evil Sprits From a Sick Boy." Masks owned by shamans were much more valued than other masks, and they were able to be used more than once. Around the mask are feathers. I admire the build of this masks because of the various feathers around it.

Edward S. Curtis, A man wearing a ceremonial mask of the Nunivak style, c. 1929, photograph (Edward S. Curtis Collection, Library of Congress)

Above is a photo of a man using a ceremonial mask in Nunivak Island, Alaska, in 1929. As you can tell, this mask was used by a man during a ceremony. This mask does not seem to be as decorative as the previous masks, but still is eye-catching. Just like the previous two masks, there are feathers around it. I like how simple this piece is. It appears to be a simple mask of a man.



Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, "Wearing a Force of Nature," in SmartHistory, September 25, 2018. Accessed December 1, 2023. https://smarthistory.org/seeing-america-2/north-wind-mask-sa/

Comments

  1. Stefanie WalkerDecember 4, 2023 at 7:18 AM

    Alaska Native masks are very fascinating to me. What brings the art home for me is that Alaska Native art pieces are throughout Fairbanks as well as in our schools. Such great pieces you chose, I really Sharman healing a little boy mask. With the gloves it really brings it all together.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kainoa AkeDecember 5, 2023 at 12:55 AM

    I love Alaska native masks! They convey so much information in just of piece of art. I remember going to Alaskaland/pioneer park as a kid and drawing the masks on the dome building because their unique expressions were always so interesting to me. It’s hard to pick a favorite in this selection. Overall I love North wind mask, the dotted details representing snow and the chimes really do it for me. I really appreciate the shaman mask because the matching hand pieces with the mask is something I haven’t seen before and I think it just looks really cool. The Nunivak ceremonial mask is simple but very beautiful in the shapes and carving of the nose and brow lines in the mask.

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