Non Western Blog
This week I am going to showcase Alaskan Native non-western art with an emphasis on the 20th century time period. Non-Western art refers to any art objects originating from the cultures and societies outside of the Western world. Arts of colonized areas such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are considered the West, but the arts from the native peoples of these countries are referred to as non-Western art. I have lived in Alaska for over 25 years and I have admired the works of Native Alaskans from all over the state.
In Alaska there are five distinct Native Alaskan groups and their works of art are all distinct. The Five groups are:
- Athabascan
- Yupiks
- Aleuts
- Inupiaq
- The northwest Indians that consist of Tlingit, Haida, and Tshimshian
I am going to showcase works from these groups from the state of Alaska. Each of these groups' works of art is a reflection of their geographical location in the state, resources available, their culture, collective histories as well as spiritual meanings. The cool thing about Native Alaskan Art is it can be beautiful and also functional. Like the art transcends into function. The art created in the 20th century can be seen in today's market as well. Just visit any shop in downtown Fairbanks that bears the "Certified Made in Alaska" polar bear symbol and you know you are purchasing authentic works made by local Alaskans. Or if you are in the Interior of Alaska you can visit our Museum of the North to see beautiful works. This is the museum that I am most familiar with and it has the largest and most diverse display in the area.
Below is a button blanket fashioned by the Tlingit or Haida. This button blanket has texture. It has shells sewn on to help create the design. When I look at this, the shells make the design "pop" on top of the brown backdrop. This piece makes me feel like it is a piece that has a history. These blankets were worn for ceremonial purposes and would also be worn to a potlach. The animal prints that were seen into them usually had meaning. This could be the family's crest or the person's spirit animal. That being said, blankets can also be worn or given during other ceremonies (where one does not dance wearing the blanket). For example, button blankets are often worn during potlatches, a gift-giving feast of the Pacific Northwest people. A button blanket can also be given in a variety of ceremonies such as a wedding (given to the couple) or graduation. And very importantly, it can be given in a naming ceremony. (Emily,2016)
Below is a Yupik dancing mask. This mask was from the early 20th century. Yupiks settled in Southwest Alaska and were hunters, fishermen, and gatherers. During the long, harsh winters in the Arctic, local people traditionally gathered indoors for celebrations of performance cycles. These featured feasts and masked dances in order to maintain harmony between the human, animal, and supernatural realms for the coming year. The masks worn by costumed dancers were often danced in pairs and represented a variety of animals, supernatural beings, and animal helpers. Humorous examples were also known, including caricatures of local personalities meant to entertain the spectators. (The Met, 2021) Click on this link to read an in-depth article on Yupik culture. The art element value in this piece is neutral in color. The color varies very little from white to tan, to dark brown. This piece evokes a feeling of spirituality to me. I can envision the mask representing the Yupik that lived inland and hunted caribou and other land animals. The white spots around the eye in the mask remind me of a pattern you would find on a caribou hide.
Below you will find a traditional Athabascan pair of beaded gloves. The Athabascans lived in the interior where they were accomplished, hunters. You can find beaded artwork and sewing projects using items such as slippers, mittens, mukluks, jackets, vests, and gloves using Moosehide and Beaver pelts. Follow this link to read about Athabascan culture and way of life. The pattern of beading in these gloves is beautiful. The reoccurrence of the pattern of the beads helps create a visual beat that turns into a flower pattern. Seeing these gloves and mukluks makes me feel like I want to stay warm during a long cold interior winter!
Below you will see the woven basket works made by the Aleut people using abundant ryegrass and a birdskin parka. The Aleut people made their home on the Alaskan Pribilof Islands and have a life centered around the sea. The birdskin parka has feathers sewn on the inside and the below one is made with over 50 duck skins. The parka was weatherproof and warm. Follow this link to read more on Aleut basketry and the primary resources used in their culture and art. I like to see the rhythm/movement that is created with the dyed color bands circulating the baskets. I feel like these baskets are beautiful and can be used in many different ways. When I look at the parka I look at the proportion/scale of size. It is big enough to come down over the user's knees to protect a large area of the body from the weather and elements.
Inupiaq is best known for fossilized whalebone carvings. And sculptures from Shishmaref are collected by art enthusiasts the world over. Carvings mostly depict traditional village life, including hunting, fishing drumming, and dancing. These sculptures are often embellished with baleen, the black plates found in whale jaws, and ivory inlay. The carvers of Shishmaref are mostly men, but the women of the village are also renowned for their talent as skin sewers and exquisite beaders. From elaborate dolls to gloves and slippers, their work incorporates numerous locally harvested natural materials. (AIANTA, 2021) Follow this link to see an amazing carving! Below is an Inupiaq carving. The shape and form of this piece is three-dimensional. This piece makes me feel like the artist is telling a story. It reminds me of a totem.
Citations:
Braghieri, Susan. “The Church in the Meadow.” Authorsusan.Com, 2017, www.authorsusan.com/2017/09/somewhere-inthe-church-in-the-meadow/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=9c71ebabe63afc8c82853607728905bf03ca976a-1624729275-0-AQJ4_SbIERDeQDW1B7ifkqqJqUp-joGSMbuBsuSi84oBTIe9ZSFC2BJWtNIahGd2NX7ulw0-_qlm4OUi-EfrAl9jaODYVm93VWo22ICcUyoFTPdyMqlNUSae5xsi_FFXu22k8UnJoh0Bh-4uaOOZ9h362TQ5UC54VxheDOXGOFJx90sbrIcAFsP3rQ4e8nWjarTLLWOlDeiwcln_l-YfUgZgFripqAALSg9FmiK_UTzwZ6Js7-Y0w9lLnRHLWIBzfyeE3mjrQZjCWqfP6kR4qq1nFhtOvI7TA3jHfXTzdwPJUUqeqXSqvKj_98MsBTo53QVUzRPddd3rj47S4uQcFbrvf02rSbp-tyihTpIjARra2EH4E813QV-vIRgm5u1sKKrvnYjXA-CHgFIUKbAu1lbu36yR646phx8CTRIncatciPUFWYbu7XJIY6xzMrxmD0FUgFhn5hbQ1yi5YWK9ygA.
“Dance Mask Yupik The Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The Met, The Met Cloisters, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/313313. Accessed 1 Aug. 2021.
“Inupiaq Carvers of Shishmaref Alaska.” Nativeamerica.Travel, AIANTA, 1 Aug. 2021, nativeamerica.travel/experiences/inupiaq-carvers-of-shishmaref-alaska.
My favorite other than the beadwork, but that is my own cultural bias because my grandmothers beadwork will always be my favorite, are the Yup'ik story masks. Even without a performance many of the masks by themselves tell a whole story and they're just fascinating. There are some of these masks on display at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage that I can't find online but they're so beautiful, they even have animals carved and tell a whole story. I really wish I could share them with you but I only know that they were on display there when I was there last.
ReplyDeleteThank you for such an informative blog. I'm glad you provided examples from each of the five groups.
ReplyDeleteThe Yup'ik dancing mask is beautiful, and learning that it deals with maintaining balance with the spiritual world and nature makes it particularly special. I can only imagine that it was created from a place of deep spiritual importance to the creator. This artist's analysis of a Yup'ik dance mask is an interesting listen. She has a lot of insight into the potential sacred meanings and aesthetics of the mask.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oMzeuPBtGA
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI think it’s cool that you chose to look at Native Alaskan art for this project. I honestly wasn’t familiar with any of the five art groups that you discussed (I had heard of Inupiaq, but had never investigated it), so it was nice to get an insight into their art forms.
I really like the Yupik dancing mask that you highlighted. I think it’s kind of funny that the masks were used to entertain spectators during the winter by being caricatures of local personalities. We all know it can get boring here in the winter, so it is neat to see how the Yupik dealt with the harsh winter.
Hi Jessica. Thank you for sharing! I really like the art you have presented here. Living in Alaska and being raised in Alaska, I have seen a lot of Native Alaskan art. We are fortunate enough to learn a little but about it in school and very fortunate to have the culture surround Alaska. I love the many different types of art that come from the Indigenous culture. These pieces of work show just how many different types of work are present in Alaska. From beading to formline to carving, there’s something for really anyone. Thank you for sharing these pieces with us!
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post, I really liked the art pieces you chose. I have always loved the beadwork and the patience and and dexterity that it requires. I have also always loved the designs and colors used in the Native Alaskan bead work.