Amikuk Mask

Item number 2006.10 from the Portland Art Museum.

Public

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Data
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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