‘Water is life. We come from water and Earth. In this show, I want to bring us to the water’s edge to appreciate and honor, the spirits of water, animals, and land. I was born a mirror twin in the month of March near the Kuskokwim River in Bethel, Alaska, and I have always felt a connection to bodies of water. In many communities around the world people live by some form of water whether it be a river, lake or the ocean. In these places where the water and the land meet many things transform. Life comes to existence. And life is taken away. And just as the ebb and flow of the water, our lives are transformed and changed as things come in and out. The Yup’ik people of Western, Alaska believe that everything has spirit and in this time we must honor and protect the waters that we so rely on for subsistence and our ways of life. I hope you able to look into the spirits represented here, and can take the time to remember the importance of water, and protecting the lands that they connect to, and the animals that live within and around. 

Yup’ik masks have been used for centuries to connect us to the spirits that live in the waters, animals, and lands around us. We rely on these animals to give themselves to us when we hunt, fish, or gather. As a person wears a mask they embody the spirit that is represented on that mask. During times before colonial or outside influences, many masks would be created and worn in pairs or multiples. As they were collected these pairs were separated and dispersed around the world to many museums or private collections. Many of the pieces in the show were created in pairs to share the importance of these twins or partners and their relationships between each other and ourselves. This aspect of mask wearing would create a relationship between the spirits and foil the personalities of the spirits. Traditionally people would gather from the whole community and have a song and dance that accompanies the mask as it is being worn. With the storytelling, we are able to send prayers to the spirits and spirit world. 

Often times these masks would experience a transformation physically by being changed through elements like water, earth, fire, or leaving it out on the land to decompose naturally. As a mask went through a transformation through an element, we hoped and prayed that we would have a spiritual transformation as well. In a way giving an offering to the spirits.  

My hope is that as you look at these masks and other objects in this show, you will see the spirits and consider giving your own offering.” – Drew Michael