Northwest Coast Handcarved Masks
From my several teachers of First Nations art I developed a style that incorporated features of the many different tribes I was taught. I don't do as much native art carving as I used to but it's still an art form I love because of the discipline and tradition linked to it.
dated 2006 until 2010
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Bear Headdress
2010The bear is a key character to many native stories, myths and legends and is highly revered in First Nations culture. This is a mask style headdress that would be worn to represent a black bear when a story is being shared. Made from Western Red cedar, pounded copper, acrylic paint, black bear fur and oiled and waxed for preservation.
Raven Steals the Light Plaque
2009The Raven is one of the most important characters in First Nations mythology and in some stories he is responsible for putting the sun in the sky by tricking and stealing it from an old man who kept it hidden in a box within a thousand boxes. Hand carved from red cedar, this piece features an abalone type shell acrylic paint and an oil and wax finish.
Shaman King Portrait Mask
2009
The Shaman is a medicine man with powers that enable him to transport himself into the spirit world when he is in the process of healing a sick person or to retrieve a medicine spirit for hi own use. The Pacific Coast shamans practiced various curing rituals. The long-haired Haida shamans used a special bone tube to blow away sickness and catch lost souls. In their search for souls gone astray, groups of Salish shamans mimed voyages made by spirit canoes. Nootka shamans dived to the bottom of the sea to do battle with the sea spirits who stole souls. Native Americans understand that health includes not just physical and mental well-being, but also prosperity (of self and community), harmonious relationships with family and lasting friendships. Medicine is therefore anything which promotes this broader concept of health.
This mask was hand carved from western red cedar and features yellow cedar, cedar bark, a deer skull with antlers, horse hair, acrylic paint and an oil and wax finish.
Tree Spirit Portrait Mask
2008Portrait mask carved from Red Alder, painted with acrylics, adorned with maple twigs and oiled and waxed. This kind of mask was used to represent a human character in a story and this one's link with the forest and earth spirit.
The White Raven
2007
The White Raven is mentioned in many legends and myths in both Northwest Coast and Celtic cultures. Before Raven was black, he was white; some believe he turned black when he stole fire from the sun using a branch, and as he raced back to earth the sparks and soot turned him black. Other myths say that the Raven and Crow were the last birds to be painted, and being the gods had used all the colors on all the other birds, the only color left was black, which is why the raven and crow are always fighting.
This piece was made from red cedar, cedar bark, rabbit fur, feathers, acrylic paint and is finished with an oil and wax combination.
Bookwus
2007The Wildman of the Woods, Bukwus, is a supernatural, non-human creature who is an important figure in Kwakwaka’wakw mythology. He is associated with the spirits of people who have drowned and lives in an invisible house in the forest. He lurks on the edges of forests and near streams, luring the souls of those who’ve drown. Those captured by the Bukwus are condemned to eternal hunger, misery, and wandering, and accompany him as he journeys to lure more souls into the spirit world. Bukwus is a spiritual embodiment of all things in the forest and is a representation of people in our lives that attempt to influence us negatively. I took the Kwaqiutl teachings and added a more human Tshimsham element and then added my own interpretation. I wanted to catch the exact moment when Bookwus spots his prey of drowned humans, and anticipates coaxing them to come live with him in his world. Bukwus was carved from alder and features horsehair, deer antler, paint, oil and wax.
Hamatsa'a Raven
2006Long ago no divisions existed between humans, animals and spirits. All things of the earth, sky, and, water were connected and all beings could pass freely between them. The Raven was a trickster full of supernatural power. He stole the sun from his grandfather Nasshahkeeyalhl and made the moon and stars from it. The Raven created lakes, rivers and filled the lands with trees. He divided night and day, then pulled the tides into a rhythm. He filled the streams with fresh water, scattered the eggs of salmon and trout, and placed animals in the forests. The first human was hiding in a giant clamshell and Raven released them onto the beaches and gave humans fire. Raven disappeared and took with him the power of the spirit world to communicate and connect with humans. The Hamatsa, a dance performed by the Kwakiutl of British Columbia, Canada, is used primarily to induct novice shamans into the Hamatsa Society. Their membership in this society assures them of higher status as community healers. The Hamatsa dance is also occasionally performed at ceremonial potlatches.
Shaman in Trance
2006Made from alder,cedar bark, acrylic paint, feathers, and is finished with oil and wax.