Alik's Transformation Mask

This piece called Transformation Mask (Sea Bear), as in the title it is a transformation mask from the Northwest Coast Cherokee/Kwakwaka'wakw tribe created by Don Svanvik in 2000. Masks such as this were used to reflect art and culture of specific tribes as well as used for cultural performances. This mask is currently hanging on the wall in The Montclair Art Museum (MaM). This mask was a gift donated by Alan and Audrey Bleviss.

This Transformation Mask in particular was made with the mediums of red cedar, cedar bark, copper, pigment, and string. This masks dimensions are about 3 feet by 2 feet. The MaM displays this mask in its open form. The inside of this mask shows a man sitting his legs crouched up and his arms out wide as if he had

wings. Observing the face, there are very strong facial features. He has very sharp cheek bones, a wide nose, very thick and dark eyebrows as well as dark facial hair (a mustache/goatee). His eyes are wide and are peering up into the sky and his very bright red lips in a whistling like position. When looking closely you can see a tube from the mouth with three strings coming out. These strings connect to the hinges of the mask and are what can open and close the mask at the wearers will. When looking at the full body, his limbs are made up of many different geometric shapes such as ovals, also known as an ovoid, and don't seem to be anatomically correct. However, when looking at the legs, the artist has chosen to show the skeleton structure of the legs to let the viewer see into this human.
Describing this mask in its closed position is a challenge since the MaM does again, display this mask open. From what you can see however, this mask completely takes another form when closed. From what can be viewed, the outer subject, has two large nostrils as well as two large eyes. Around the mask, cedar creates what looks like a lion mane. The eyes, nostrils and teeth are located on the same appendage as the inner arms are.
Transformation masks can be described as, a large mask with moveable parts that can be opened and closed. These mask along with many other masks are the most widely produced form of art in the tribes of the Northwest Coast. These masks play a big role of showing transformation in ceremonies where they help recall heroic deeds of mythic ancestors. In ceremonies such as a potlatch , dancers would appear with the masks in a closed position. During key moments of the dance however, the dancer would pull the hidden strings to reveal the inside of the mask which usually is a human like figure.
The mask tells a story of Alikwamae, who was a young boy with a high social status among his people.

His parents dying when he was young left him to live with his very jealous uncles who wanted to plot to kill him. One day, they did just that and beat Alikwamae to death. Waking up at an edge of a pool, he befriended a mouse that he had caught. This mouse took Alikwamae to an Undersea Kingdom where he met the chief. The chief granted Alikwame the power to help his people. These powers allowed Alikwame to transform into any creature he found in the Undersea Kingdom. The sea bear being one of these mystical animals. Once he returned to his tribe, he had the gift to transform himself and also the ability to heal the sick and injured. He also had psychic powers to see into the future as well as to interpret dreams. Also in Native American art as a whole, the bear is a symbol of many things such as, family and strength. also, when looking at the symbolism of a whale/killer whale, it represents kindness, intelligence and compassion. Also, the whale is known to help people in need whether the person is helpless or wounded. In the example of this mask put both the symbol of the bear and the whale to get Sea Bear which is actually part bear and part killer whale. So together, you get a creature who is strong but also has a lot of compassion and is

kind.
For these Native American tribes, art and culture go together in perfect harmony. This is what makes it easy for art historians to connect specific pieces of art with different tribes and cultures. In order to really get to know and appreciate a work, it's always helpful to have background information on the tribe or society who made the piece.