Bryon L Amos "Walrus Orca Mask Design"

This mask was first produced of the Amos Family of Nunivak Island. My Uncle first designed this mask since he was a young man, after serving in the World War 11, he went back to Nunivak Island to continue his legacy of mask making in wood and Ivory. Since his departure, according to our traditional and family heritage, the family lineage in the traditional arts, must be handed down to the younger siblings within the family.The masks of the ancient times were traditionally made of white spruce wood. The paint was made from red ochre rock mixed with seal blood, as an ancient tie to Spirit of the ocean mammal life they respected. The black paint was also used with a charcoal rock mixed in seal blood. The wood rings were professionally made through steaming the wood and bending them into shape. The Mask was tied with walrus sinew, to tie the rings together. In the ancient times, the masks were made for traditional purposes as dancing, ritual and festive gatherings during the seasonal chang