Wayne Komakhuk Large Yup'ik Spirit Mask - "Spirit of the Wind"

 "Spirit of the Wind" Large Yup'ik Spirit Mask featuring cottonwood and soapstone by Wayne Komakhuk

The hunter is whistling for seals. The face is made from cottonwood bark and soapstone. The ivory piercing on the bottom of the face represents that he is the hunter of the village. The ivory cheek represents a fellow hunter. 

The inner hoop symbolizes the earth and the outer hoop is the universe, the dots on the feathers symbolize the stars. The five feathers from left to right are the ocean, land, our creator, food we harvest and respect for others.

The fish, whale tails, and fins are made with baleen. The paddle and harpoon are made with baleen with an ivory blade. Walrus head is made from soapstone with mammoth ivory tusks.