Amikuk Mask Item Number: 2006.10 from the Portland Art Museum
Description
Phillip Charette, whose Yup'ik name Aarnaquq was handed down in his family, is an artist who sees inspiration in traditional forms and creates visually potent statements using a variety of contemporary media. Historically, Yup'ik shamans used Amikuk masks in their healing ceremonies as a portal to travel into the spiritual world. Although the traditional style of Yup'ik mask was carved from wood, Charette uses a range of ceramic techniques to achieve the desired results and even models the clay to simulate the adze marks that appear on the surface of wooden masks. He researches every detail and each aspect has a symbolic reference. For example, the white paint around the eyes represent snow goggles and the red on the lips and interior of the nostrils represents blood, signifying the mask's strength, while the porcelain teeth are a reminder of the dangerous and powerful beings that inhabit the spiritual world.
Collection History Provenance
Gift of the Native American Art Council.
Item History
- Made by Phillip Charette during 2006
What
- Name
- Amikuk Mask
- Identification Number
- 2006.10
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- raku, horsetail fired clay, porcelain, glass bead, red oak, feather, rawhide hide and paint
- Overall
- height 60.0 in, width 72.0 in, depth 18.0 in
Who
- Culture
- American and Yup'ik
- Creator
- Phillip Charette
Where
- Holding Institution
- Portland Art Museum
When
- Creation Date
- during 2006
Other
- Categories
- Arctic; Ceremonial and Ritual Objects