Red Cedar Eagle Mask

Gilbert Dawson is a Kwakwaka’wakw artist and comes from the small island community of Alert Bay, BC, located on the north east coast of Vancouver Island. He started carving in the mid 90's learning with some of the best carvers in his Nation like Beau Dick, Bruce Alfred and Don Svanvic.  He has honed his craft by producing various traditional and commercial carved pieces in the form of masks, totem poles, rattles, paddles and panels. Gilbert is a fluent Kwak'wala speaker and traditional singer and drummer who regularly participates in traditional Kwakwaka’wakw potlatch ceremony. 

This Kwigwis or Eagle mask is hand carved in western red cedar in true traditional Kwakwaka’wakw style. With the addition of red cedar bark bundles added to the top, bottom and side and painted with acrylic paints in black, red and yellow. Eagle is a prominent figure in Northwest coast art and mythology and is often depicted in masks, carvings, and other ceremonial objects. The Eagle is also believed to be a messenger between the physical and spiritual worlds and in many cases represented in stories of origin for some Kwakwaka’wakw tribes. 

Red Cedar, Red Cedar Bark and Acrylic

6.5"w x 10"h x 10"d

*May not be exactly as shown. Colour and pattern of wood may vary slightly.