Giinaquq "Like a Face"
Coming on the end of this class project. I have attended many different events for the celebration of Native American History Month and after visiting the Anchorage Museum to see the exhibit I would like to say finally, at least Alaska received 34 of the masks back to exhibit.
Like African masks each Alaskan made mask has a meaning behind it and because of circumstances beyond my elders control the art of mask making is dying.
There is an artist in Anchorage who carves masks out of cedar. I have also seen traditional artists work at the Alaska Native Heritage Center to see their work visit www.alaskanative.org.
I still say that many of the current artists like Henry Chennault making Yup'ik masks are exploiting a tradition without really understanding what the masks meant to my people. I say that Henry never grew up in Alaska and just studying art does not make you an expert in the field. There are stories, myths, traditions and more that goes into a mask and there is a meaning to them. I do not think that Henry Chennault does not have the history.
My family and I plan on visiting the Anchorage Museum soon.
End of Blog..................
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