Snow Owl Spirit Mask by Bryan Amos, Cup'ig

Snow Owl Spirit Mask, 2023 by Bryan Amos, Cup’ig Culturewood, pigment21” high x 21” wide x 4” deepThis hoop mask demonstrates the tradition of mask-making on the Nunivak Island off the coast of Alaska, where the Cup’ig sub-dialect of the Yup’ik language is spoken.  Masks such as this one are danced in ceremonies to ask the spirits of animals to continue to feed the human community.The ring encircling the central mask represents a “spiritual universe” or ellanguaq where animal spirit beings dwell, in this case a snow owl.  The stylized appendages in the encircling ring represent the appendages of the spirit animal, as well as other animal helpers, in this case a whale and two Arctic hare. These masks were carved by men or women, but mostly by men.  They range in size from small finger masks or maskettes to large masks hung from the ceiling or carried by several people.  They are used to bring the person wearing it luck and good fortune in hunts.  They are also worn during the long winte