Portland Free School
Beauty Surrounds Us
I'll be adding notes to accompany these beautiful images shortly. If you can't wait, or want to check it out for yourself, click on this link- Beauty Surrounds Us/National Museum of the American Indian
Transformation Mask
Masks like this are used by Kwakwaka'wakw dancers to show their ancestors' ability to change from human form to animal spirit. As you can see, hinges and strings enable the dancer to emerge as one being and transform into another at the pull of a cord. The mask opens and closes to the beat of a drum.
Click on the images below to see BIG pictures of these Native American artifacts
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 Crow Child's Dress, 1915
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 Tlingit Rattle, 1880
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Bear and Hawk Tlingit Rattle
Round-shaped rattles like this were used by Shamans during ceremonies to diagnose and cure illnesses.
This rattle shows a bear on one side and a hawk on the other, animal spirits the shaman might have called upon to help him in his work.
This rattle shows a bear on one side and a hawk on the other, animal spirits the shaman might have called upon to help him in his work.
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