Currently not on view
Gwaxwgwakwalanuksiwe' (man-eating raven) hamat'sa mask,
ca. 1900
The Hamsamala dance mask, a vital symbol within the Hamat'sa society, embodies a narrative of equilibrium and introspection. This supernatural bird mask—symbolizing the harmony between natural and supernatural realms—is not just a cultural artifact but a moral compass. It metaphorically represents a cannibalistic entity, providing a stark commentary on the dangers of consumption and ecological harm. It is a cautionary tale about the repercussions of unchecked human actions that threaten our environmental balance. It compels us to reflect on our lifestyle choices and their broader impact on both our world and the cosmos. Ultimately, the Hamsamala mask realigns the essence of material consumption with the need for emotional balance. It underscores the importance of responsible coexistence with nature, while reinforcing the qualities necessary for leadership within a complex, interconnected world.
Rande Cook, artist, Namgis First Nation
Information
ca. 1900
North America, Tsax̱is
North America, Canada, British Columbia, Fort Rupert, Vancouver Island
- Erna Gunther, Northwest Coast Indian Art: An Exhibit at Seattle's World Fair Fine Arts Pavilion, April 21-October 21 (Seattle: Century 21 Exposition, 1962)., cat. no. 16, p. 16 (illus.)
- Erna Gunther, "West Coast Indian Art Goes to the Fair," The Beaver: A Magazine of the North (Winnipeg: Hudson's Bay Co., Spring 1963): 4-13., p. 4–13, p. 8 (illus.)
- James E. Nicholson. Images of New World Natives. (Brunswick, Maine, Bowdoin College Museum of Art, 1974). , p. 18
- Helen H. Marr, Voices of the Ancestors: Music in the Life of the Northwest Coast Indians (Greenwich, CT: Bruce Museum, 1986)., p. 21
- Allen Wardwell, et al. "Princeton's Collections of Northwest Coast Indian Art," American Indian Art Magazine, vol. 22, no. 2 (Spring 1997): 34-43., fig. 8, p. 40 (illus.)
