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    Masked Heroes: Facial Coverings by Native Artists

    6
    By on Articles, Virtual Art Exhibitions, Web Content
    Georgina Medina
    The Medina family modeling their handmade masks. Image courtesy of Georgina Medina (Tulalip Tribes).

    In response to the rapid shuttering of art galleries and museums to help slow the spread of COVID-19, First American Art Magazine launched a call for this virtual art exhibition. The Native art community has responded to this crisis with compassion, generosity, bravery, and hope. Through Masked Heroes, we want to celebrate the resilience of Indigenous peoples and help share the beauty that Native artists have created in the face of our shared crisis.

    Seventy-three artists responded to our call for entries with 125 masks. Due to the unexpected numbers of entries, they are divided by subject matters into the themes of Abstraction, Four-Leggeds, From the Water, Plant World, Two-Leggeds, and Winged Beings.

    While the masks in this exhibition need not be functional, many of them are. Many artists have gifted masks to healthcare workers on the frontlines of this crisis.

    Nasuk Ahyakak
    Masks made by Nasuk Ahyakak (Native Village of Barrow, Iñupiaq).

    FAAM introduced awards to this exhibition as a motivation to enter. We are pleased to announce that Howard La Fortune (Tsawout First Nation) won Best of Show with his Bear Snout, a carved cedar mask. Twenty-six editors, writers, advisors, and regional representatives of FAAM judged the entries. Author Stacy Pratt, PhD (Mvskoke), wrote, “Judging that was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life!” The vast number of excellent masks with such a broad range of styles and techniques made judging a challenge, and all of the artworks deserve recognition.

    The magazine was founded with the goal of introducing the public to the widest possible range of Native artists, and we are delighted to showcase artists from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Artists provided their websites and social media links. If you want to contact any artists without links, you can email us and we will forward your email on to the artist. That way we can facilitate communication without compromising an artist’s privacy.

    Facial masks will be part of our daily lives in the future. They help protect others. We hope this exhibition helps us embrace these protections. FAAM would like to thank every artist that shared their creations with us and every other mask maker who is helping the world become a safer place for all of us.

    Exhibition Themes

    Click on thumbnail to see the masks from a particular theme.

    Abstraction
    Abstraction
    Four Leggeds
    Four Leggeds
    From the Water
    From the Water
    Plant World
    Plant World
    Two Leggeds
    Two Leggeds
    Winged Beings
    Winged Beings

    Artists by Name

    Click on the title of artwork to see the image.

      1. Pilar Agoyo (Ohkay Owingeh/Cochiti/Kewa Pueblos), Pinterest @starpilar, Twitter @agoyo
        1. Bread Is Life
        2. Protection, Judge’s Choice: Kelly Church
      2. Nasuk Ahyakak (Native Village of Barrow, Iñupiaq), FB profile: Nasuk Akyakak
        1. Mask: Blueberries
        2. Mask: Polar Bears
        3. Mask: Cowboys
      3. Marcus Amerman (Choctaw Nation) and Carolyn Amerman (Nez Perce),  IG @carolynamerman | marcusamerman.com
        1. The Ocean’s Daughter
        2. The Oscar Goes To
      4. Robbie Atabaigi (Absentee Shawnee)
        1. COVID-19 Mask—USA, Judge’s Choice: Michole Eldred, Jo Ann Reece
      5. Jeanne Banning (Fort William First Nation, Ojibway)
        1. MMIW Honor Face Mask: Fontaine
        2. MMIW Honor Face Mask: Sainnawap
        3. MMIW Honor Face Mask: Keeash
      6. Aaron Begay (Laguna Pueblo/Navajo), IG @shaawiit
        1. Protection Ceremony
      7. Casey Bigpond (Mississippi Choctaw/Creek)
        1. Choctaw Mask
      8. Nan Blassingame (Southern Cheyenne), FB @Nativeamericannotions
        1. Floral Hat with Matching Mask
      9. Nancy Brown-Garcia (Narragansett), IG @nancybrowngarcia
        1. Wampumpeag Warrior Weapon
        2. Quahaug Protection
        3. Wolf Mask
      10. Tranette Calladitto (Navajo), FB @tmcnavajoartist, IG @tcalladitto_nativeartist
        1. Be the Hunter, Not the Hunted
        2. Native Strong
      11. Carolyn Calvin (Navajo)
        1. SPAM 4ever
      12. Renee Cleveland (Navajo), FB Profile: R.K. Cleveland
        1. Navajo Conchos
        2. Prayers for Life (Warrior Prayers) 
        3. Hopi Prayer
        4. Water Is Life
      13. Nicolette Corbett (Orutsararmiut Native Council, Yup’ik), sewyupik.com, IG @sewyupik, FB @sewyupik
        1. Masks for Heroes
        2. Yakutat Masks
      14. Cathy Cordry (Rosebud Sioux Tribe), cathycordry.square.site, FB profile: Cathylee Cordry
        1. Old Medicine
        2. Banana Split
      15. Juli Cote (Osage), FB profile: Juli Cote 
        1. Because I Can
      16. Michael Danner (Native Hawaiian) and Gigi Danner (Chickasaw)
        1. Rockin Rez Mask
      17. Dawn Dark Mountain (Oneida Nation), dawndarkmountain.com, FB @DarkMountainWatercolorsLLC
        1. Unique Batik
        2. Lose Is a Rose
        3. Space Oddity 
        4. Morris Mask
      18. Catherine Esquivel (Diné), FB profile: Catherine Esquivel
        1. Masks made in a hurry and of desperation
        2. New and Improved Design
      19. Tom Farris (Otoe-Missouria/Cherokee), FB @TheArtofTomFarris
        1. Irony
      20. Anita Fields (Osage/Muscogee), IG @nativefields
        1. All My Heroes Wear Ribbon Work, Judge’s Choice: Staci Golar, Jami Powell
      21. Kenneth Glass (Cherokee Nation), FB @kgdesigns918, IG @kendoll49
        1. Ꮭ ᎪᎯᎢᎦ Corona, Ꮭ ᎪᎯᎢᎦ
      22. Dolores Gull (Weenusk First Nation, Cree) and Faith Chookomolin (Weenusk First Nation, Cree), FB Profile: CREE STYLE BY De LORES
        1. I See You, Judge’s Choice: America Meredith
      23. Valarie Harris (Hopi/Tohono O’odham), FB profile: Val Harris, IG @val.j.harris
        1. Buffalo Dress
        2. Hopi Spring
      24. Sue Herne (Akwesasne Mohawk)
        1. Clear Skies
      25. Carrie Hill (Akwesasne Mohawk), chill-baskets.com, FB @chillbaskets, IG @chillbaskets
        1. #COVIDCreation, Judge’s Choice: Linda Lomahaftewa
      26. Luzene Hill (Eastern Band Cherokee) and Samantha Page McDaniel (Eastern Band Cherokee), allgoodandasbill.com, IG @samanthaspage, Etsy: AllgoodandAsbill | luzenehill.com, FB @LuzeneHillArt
        1. Untitled
      27. Loretta Hoagland (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, White Earth) and  Destani Hoagland (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, White Earth), IG @ojibwe_beaders
        1. Our Mask with Four Direction Colors
        2. Eagle Mask
      28. Lily Hope (Tlingit), lilyhope.com, IG @lilyhopeweaver, #lilyhopecouture
        1. Chilkat Protector, Judge’s Choice: Jean Merz-Edwards, Christopher Smith, Matthew Ryan Smith
      29. Madeline Jenkins [Muscogee (Creek) Nation], IG @hotvle.craft
        1. Cenke Okkosvs (Wash Your Hands)
      30. Yvonne Jolley (Yurok)
        1. Yurok Friendship Design, Judge’s Choice: Michelle J. Lanteri
        2. Yurok Frog Hand
      31. Heather Jordan (NANA, Iñupiaq)
        1. Purple Warrior
        2. Untitled
      32. Catherine Kasler (Cherokee Nation)
        1. Native Prairie
      33. Nickole Keith (Nottawaseppi Huron Band Potawatomi) and Johnathon Moulds, (Nottawaseppi Huron Band Potawatomi), Photographer, FB @NKSTAMPED, IG @NKStamped
        1. De’h – Heart (Potawatomi)
      34. Howard La Fortune (Tsawout First Nation), FB profile: Howard La Fortune, Twitter
        @howardthduck64, IG @thduck64

        1. Bear Snout, Best of Show
      35. Denise Lajimodiere (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe), FB @birchbarkbiting
        1. “His” Blue Bird Flour Sack Mask 
        2. “Her” Blue Bird Flour Sack Mask 
      36. Heather Levi (Kiowa/Cheyenne/Arapaho) and George Curtis Levi (Cheyenne/Arapaho/Lakota), FB profile: Heather Levi | FB @georgecurtislevi, IG @georgecurtislevi
        1. Black Horse Ledger Mask
        2. Red Buffalo Run Mask
        3. Blue Buffalo Run Mask
      37. Sheena Logan (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma), FB profile: Chickee Chic
        1. Lightning Patchwork
        2. Happy Path
      38. Shayai Lucero (Acoma/Laguna), earthskyfloral.com, FB @EarthSkyFloral, IG @EarthSkyFloral
        1. Breath of Life, Judge’s Choice: Samonia Byford
      39. LeAndra Madalena (Navajo), IG @mrsmontypython
        1. Heroes Just for One Day
        2. Heroes Just for One Day (series)
      40. Brenda L. Mahan (Koyukon Athabascan), FB profile: Brenda Mahan (Brenda LaPlante), IG @flwrquilt
        1. Attitude
        2. Spring
      41. Leith Mahkewa (Oneida Nation of the Thames), FB @leithbeadwork, IG @leithmahkewa
        1. I Am Protecting You from Me, Second Place, Judge’s Choice: Stephanie Pratt, Jackie Sevier
      42. Lea McCormick (Mvskoke Nation), FB @WovenDesignsbyLea
        1. Weaver’s Mask
      43. Georgina Medina (Tulalip Tribes), FB profile: Georgina Medina 
        1. Tribal Affiliation
        2. Sacred Voices
        3. Tribal Views
        4. Native Ways 
      44. Bill Mendoza (Oglala Lakota/Sicangu Lakota), quillbillcreations.com, FB @QuillBillCreations, IG @quillbillcreations
        1. Dentalium and Quilled Mask, Third Place, Judge’s Choice: Heather Cox
      45. Linda Lou Metoxen (Navajo).  Note: Metoxen has sold her masks, is out of material, and will not be making more in the near future.
        1. Saving Lives While Saving the Planet, Judge’s Choice: Emily Haozous
        2. Still Remembering Our Sisters
      46. Katrina Mitten (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), katrinamitten.com, FB Katrina Mitten – Beadwork Artist
        1. You May Not Kiss The Bride, Judge’s Choice: heather ahtone
        2. MMIW
        3. Thoughts of Summer
      47. Sage Mountainflower (Ohkay Owingeh), sagemountainflower.com, FB profile: Sage PinPovi, IG @pinpovi
        1. Hide Them Fancy High Cheekbones
      48. Allyssa Nashookpuk (Huslia Tribe, Athabascan)
        1. Athabascan Face Masks
      49. Cecili O’Sullivan (Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak)
        1. Full Heart On
      50. Samantha Page McDaniel (Eastern Band Cherokee), allgoodandasbill.com, IG @samanthaspage, Etsy: AllgoodandAsbill
        1. Quarantime
        2. Mean Business
        3. Safe to Fly
        4. To The Point
      51. Jobena Petonoquot (Kitigan Zibi Algonquin), IG @jobena_petonoquot
        1. The Healer
      52. Jennifer Pictou (Aroostook Band of Micmacs), IG @raepictou
        1. Mi’kmaq Basket Mask
      53. Osceola Red Shirt (Oglala Lakota), Two Guns Leather: twogunsleather.com, FB @twogunsleather, IG @twogunsleather
        1. Floral Shield 
      54. Michelle Reed (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe), FB MReed Designs Purse Co., IG @mreeddesigns
        1. Comfort Our Children 
        2. Supaman Appliqué Mask to Match Regalia
      55. Addie Roanhorse (Osage), addieroanhorse.com, IG @addie_roanhorse
        1. New World
      56. Tiya Rosario (Kiowa), FB profile: Tajabling Tajabling, email
        1. Covid Cover Bling Things
        2. Shiny Silver Delight
        3. Shimmery Pink 
      57. Margaret Riley Santhanam (Choctaw/Chickasaw), IG @margmom5
        1. Laris
        2. Sukie
      58. Melinda Schwakhofer (Mvskoke), inspiraculum.co.uk
        1. Este Mvskokvlket Owis
      59. Stefanie Sikorowski (Oneida/Chickasaw)
        1. Good Medicine
      60. Vicki Soboleff (Tlingit, Haida), FB @soboleff.selections, IG @vicki.soboleff, Twitter @VickiSHaida
        1. Just Ovoid It
      61. Vera Starbard (Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indians of Alaska/Native Village of Tyonek, Tlingit/Dena’ina) and Don Starbard (Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indians of Alaska, Tlingit), FB @eekhit | verastarbard.com
        1. Young Devilfish Warrior
        2. Eagle Catches Devilfish
        3. Devilfish Under the Moon
        4. Devilfish On the Red Carpet
      62. Elizabeth Stephens (Caddo Nation of Oklahoma), FB @thunderhorsecreations
        1. Horse Girl
      63. Stephanie Tenasco (Kitigan Zibi Anishinabe), IG @stephanie_tenasco
        1. Mashkawizìwin (Strength) 
      64. Marlana Thompson (Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne), FB @OCbyMTB, IG @marlanathompsonbaker
        1. Ononkwashon:a / Medicinal Plants, Judge’s Choice: Stacy Pratt
      65. Dana Tiger (Muscogee) and Rhina Bell (Seminole), tigerartgallery.com
        1. Little Tradition Keepers
      66. Michelle Tsosie Sisneros (Santa Clara Pueblo), basketinthemiststudio.com, FB profile: Michelle Tsosie Sisneros, IG @michelletsosiesisneros
        1. Dragon Fly Dreams 
        2. Strength
      67. Diane R. Walter (Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes)
        1. My Love of Alaska series, Abstraction
        2. My Love of Alaska series, From the Water
        3. My Love of Alaska series, Plant World
      68. Tonya S. Wapskineh (Cherokee Nation/Muscogee/Seminole/Prairie Band Potawatomi), IG @tanae_wapskineh
        1. Protecting Etsi (My Mom)
        2. Gatiyo (Stomp Ground) Ready
      69. Serene Weasel Traveller (Piikani Nation), FB profile: Serene Weasel Traveller, IG @sereneweaseltraveller
        1. Face Mask Quilt, Judge’s Choice: Candice Byrd
      70. Tlehpik Hjalmer Wenstob (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations), cedarhousegallery.com; FB @firstnationsart, IG @cedarhousegallery, great article in the Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News
        1. The Survivor (Gas “Mask”)
      71. Rosanne Wilson (Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove, Unangax̂), IG @rosiepq05
        1. Nautical
        2. Keep Our Town Safe 
        3. Anchors Away – Fishing Season Is Upon Us
      72. Crystal Worl (Tlingit/Athabascan/Yupik), crystalworl.com, IG @crystalworl
        1. Fine Lines
        2. Beaded Seal Fur, Judge’s Choice: Andrea L. Ferber
      73. Carol Wren (Curyung Tribal Council, Iñupiaq), IG @inupiaqgirl
        1. Dog Mushing
        2. Pretty Kitty
        3. Blueberries for Days

    Award Winners

    Howard La FortuneClick here or on the picture to see all the award winners together. Judging the photographs of masks was daunting considering how many incredible artworks are in this show. Some of the mask makers are professional artists and some are making functional masks and entering this virtual exhibition on a lark. FAAM appreciates you all!

    This exhibition was sponsored and funded by First American Art Magazine and one generous member of our editorial advisory board. We would like to thank all the artists, judges, and mask makers everywhere. Wear your masks to protect your community and let’s strive for a safer, healthier future!

    Links

    Virtual yuraq
    A virtual yuraq, or Alaska Native dance, with protective cloth masks. Image courtesy of Carol Wren (Iñupiaq, Curyung Tribal Council).

    The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting different Indigenous communities particularly hard. Some of the many groups who are helping Native communities include:

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