Featured Masks and Komokwa!

Went to a small museum in Salem Oregon yesterday, the Hallie Ford Museum at Willamette University, and thought by far the most interesting room was these NWC masks... including a great @komokwa! Here's lookin' at you buddy!

 

1st one is a frontlet.... Hunt Family... maybe Richard..
3rd , Dempsey Bob , or one of his students.
last .........I know Calvin..

Thanks Pal , with the Joe David.......those are all top of the line works ..

 

Stunning masks, thanks for showing us.
I love when they use the grain of the wood in such a way that it is part of the features of the face.

 

I should have included pics of the carvers.... but the names were familiar: Hunt, Williams, a cool Susan Point glass piece...

 

Yes...I was struck by that too, AJ.
Remarkable, fine in the truest sense...powerfully evocative, especially pics 3 an' 5!

 

That mountain goat mask was made from mountain goat fur. Pretty cool!

 

interesting that a " Museum" , would have a collection of newer works !
Someone had a good budget..........

 

Most of them were donated by a husband / wife collector team, George and Colleen Hoyt:

https://hfma.willamette.edu/collections/hoyt/

 

that makes more sense .............. they had great taste..!!

 

I'm basically considered a nobody from nowhere , in the community....but....with one or two exceptions , I've handled work by each one of those artists mentioned .
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( tooting his own horn...)

 

nice pics , pal !!

 

Thanks for the research and interest, @Christine Steingass! I shoulda been more deliberate with taking note of the carvers / artists. Next time I will!

 

I'm intrigued by #4. What am I looking at there?

 

Frog coming out of his mouth; not sure what's coming out of the eyes....

 

it's Ai, pulled off the net..... @Bronwen ..
but in this case without telling the whole darn story..... & me getting lazy....it's a pretty solid , quick overview....

& @Potteryplease ...it's frogs , all over !!!

...
Cultural Context and Mythology

• The Figure: Volcano Woman (often known as Dezelarhons or Jiila Kuns in certain traditions) is a powerful matriarchal spirit associated with fire, lava, and tectonic power. [1, 2]
• The Core Myth: In a well-known narrative, a village disrespects her children—the wild frogs. In retribution for this ecological imbalance, she triggers a catastrophic volcanic eruption that destroys the village, saving only one righteous person to pass down the law of respect for nature. [1]
• Symbolism: Her character explores the destructive and regenerative power of nature, serving as a reminder to respect all wild creatures...

the moral of the story...... don't squish frogs....their Mom, will kill you !!!!

 

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She's the one I was drawn to. Her children are the 'wild frogs.' Are there domestic ones?

 

I thought he was what's called 'an old goat' in my culture.