The virtual exhibition, Masked Heroes: Facial Coverings by Native Artists, is broken into themes based on subject matter.
Marcus Amerman (Choctaw Nation) and Carolyn Amerman (Nez Perce), "The Oscar Goes To," garnet beads, glass beads, metal charms, cloth.
Robbie Atabaigi (Absentee Shawnee), "COVID-19 Mask—USA," hand-beaded mask, 100% cotton hand-sewn mask, with elastic loops, 8 × 5 in., using a traditional First American style of seed beading to express unity at this point in history. Judge’s Choice: Michole Eldred, Jo Ann Reece
Aaron Begay (Laguna Pueblo/Navajo), "Protection Ceremony," duck canvas cloth and cotton lining with Pueblo embroidery appliqué designs of rain and sun.
Nasuk Ahyakak (Native Village of Barrow, Iñupiaq), "Mask: Cowboys," 100% cotton and elastic, IG @nasuayaaq, Pinterest @nasuayaaq
Casey Bigpond (Mississippi Choctaw/Creek), "Choctaw Mask," half-diamond design represents the Horned Serpent, diamond represents Diamondback Rattlesnake, parallel lines represent the path that we all must travel.
Nancy Brown-Garcia (Narragansett), "Wampumpeag Warrior Weapon," Swarovski Crystal's beaded lace, mask hand-sewn from burn bandages.
Nancy Brown-Garcia (Narragansett), "Quahaug Protection," crystal beads, mask hand-sewn from burn bandages.
Renee Cleveland (Navajo), "Navajo Conchos," 9-by-7 inch, prewashed cotton fabric (adult large), 12-inch shoelaces (ties), medium paper clip (nose grip), thread, ruler, scissor, clamps to hold folds while sewing.
Renee Cleveland (Navajo), "Water Is Life," 9-by-7 inch, prewashed cotton fabric (adult large), 12-inch shoelaces (ties), medium paper clip (nose grip), thread, ruler, scissor, clamps to hold folds while sewing.
Renee Cleveland (Navajo), "Hopi Prayer," 9-by-7 inch, prewashed cotton fabric (adult large), 12-inch shoelaces (ties), medium paper clip (nose grip), thread, ruler, scissor, clamps to hold folds while sewing.
Michael Danner (Native Hawaiian) and Gigi Danner (Chickasaw), "Rockin Rez Mask," cotton with ribbon.
Dawn Dark Mountain (Oneida Nation), "Unique Batik," quilting fabric, flannel, pipe cleaner, ponytail holders. Using a form-fitting pattern that includes a pocket to put a filter in, a channel for a wire (pipe cleaner) and available elastic in the form of ponytail holders, I created this mask using a unique batik fabric.
Dawn Dark Mountain (Oneida Nation), "Space Oddity," quilting fabric, flannel, pipe cleaner, ponytail holders. Using a form-fitting pattern that includes a pocket to put a filter in, a channel for a wire (pipe cleaner) and available elastic in the form of ponytail holders, I created this mask using an unusual space patterned fabric.
Tom Farris (Otoe-Missouria/Cherokee), "Irony," vintage Pendleton blanket, cotton chambray, commercial leather strap, machine sewn. This piece speaks to the irony of using a trade blanket, once used as a delivery method of infectious disease as protection from an infectious disease. In addition, it is a statement to the resilience of Native people that we have lived long enough to experience this irony.
Anita Fields (Osage/Muscogee), "All My Heroes Wear Ribbon Work," taffeta ribbons, thread, yarn, beads, brass bells, metal sequins, plastic pill pouch, photo images printed on silk, and embroidery thread. Techniques include snip-and-turn ribbonwork techniques, sewing, and four-ply braiding with beads. Judge’s Choice: Staci Golar, Jami Powell
Kenneth Glass (Cherokee Nation), "Ꮭ ᎪᎯᎢᎦ Corona, Ꮭ ᎪᎯᎢᎦ," black Teton trade cloth (wool), size 8° glass beads, silver brooches, shell disc beads, bias tape, elastic, cotton fabric backing.
Luzene Hill (Eastern Band Cherokee) and Samantha Page McDaniel (Eastern Band Cherokee), "Untitled," Cochineal protection and goddess strength in the Age of Coronavirus. Materials - cochineal dyed silk organza, silk taffeta, cotton lining, aluminum wire, lingerie elastic. Technique - One hundred eleven goddess silhouettes cut from cochineal dyed silk organza and silk taffeta, clustered in threes and attached to the cotton mask, which is constructed with a flexible wire to fit nose and pocket for an additional filter.
Loretta Hoagland (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, White Earth) and Destani Hoagland (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, White Earth), "Our Mask with Four Direction Colors," made with cotton fabric, interface in center, and elastic band rope for comfort on the ears. We wanted to help prevent a person of catching an illness, so we used a Pellion-filtered center. We will continue making these from now on. Never know when we all will need this as a necessity.
Yvonne Jolley (Yurok), "Yurok Friendship Design," 100% cotton batik fabric, pieced together. Judge’s Choice: Michelle J. Lanteri
Heather Jordan (NANA, Iñupiaq), "Purple Warrior," 100% cotton, unwoven material, and an air filter.
Heather Jordan (NANA, Iñupiaq), "Untitled," 100% cotton, unwoven material, and an air filter
Nickole Keith (Nottawaseppi Huron Band Potawatomi), "De’h – Heart (Potawatomi)," fabric, leather backing, blue ribbon with beadwork, Migis shell, heat-press vinyl Medicine Wheel. Photo: Johnathon Moulds (Nottawaseppi Huron Band Potawatomi)
Sheena Logan (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma), "Lightning Patchwork," 100 percent cotton, sewn with sewing machine.
Sheena Logan (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma), "Happy Path," 100 percent cotton, sewn on sewing machine.
LeAndra Madalena (Navajo), "Heroes Just for One Day," cotton fabric, lightweight Pellon, pipe cleaners, and elastics.
Lea McCormick (Mvskoke Nation), "Weaver’s Mask," cowhide (blue), goat hide (cream), ribbon, and stainless steel studs.
Georgina Medina (Tulalip Tribes), "Tribal Affiliation," teal and tribal 100% cotton design.
Georgina Medina (Tulalip Tribes), "Sacred Voices," 100% double layer cotton.
Georgina Medina (Tulalip Tribes), "Tribal Views," 100% cotton, double layer, elastic ear loop.
Sage Mountainflower (Ohkay Owingeh), "Hide Them Fancy High Cheekbones," lane stitch and two-needle contour beading on faux suede, lined with fusible Pellon and extra cotton layer for added pocket insert for filter, so it is washable. It's our Identity, in our blood, for our families, MASK UP.
Cecili O’Sullivan (Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Alutiiq), "Full Heart On," mask made with hair ties, safety pins, and half of a bandana.
Samantha Page McDaniel (Eastern Band Cherokee), "Quarantime," vintage printed linen, cotton, aluminum wire, nylon elastic, polyester thread. Non-functional.
Samantha Page McDaniel (Eastern Band Cherokee), "Mean Business," poly/cotton broadcloth, oxford cloth, aluminum wire, nylon elastic, polyester thread. Functional mask with double-layer of fabric and pocket for an optional filter. Washable.
Samantha Page McDaniel (Eastern Band Cherokee,) "To the Point," cotton, aluminum wire, nylon elastic, polyester thread. Functional mask with double-layer of fabric and pocket for optional filter. Washable.
Michelle Reed (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe), "Supaman Appliqué Mask to Match Regalia," cotton base, hand-cut appliqué designs on mask to match dance regalia.
Addie Roanhorse (Osage), "Nation New World," 100% cotton, cut-and-fold Osage ribbonwork pattern, elastic hair ties.
Tiya Rosario (Kiowa), "Covid Cover Bling Things" (top), and "Shiny Silver Delight" (bottom). I used a blue shimmering material and added blinged-out beadwork. You can wear this mask and add filter in the filter pocket! After COVID-19 has passed, you can take off sewn-on beadwork and wear them as earrings once you undo the thread. An awesome souvenir for surviving COVID-19 pandemic. Next is a silver shimmering glitter with blinged-out silver beaded bow and silver Swarovski gems on the opposite side.
Margaret Riley Santhanam (Choctaw/Chickasaw), "Laris," cotton calico, wool, glass beads.
Melinda Schwakhofer (Mvskoke), "Este Mvskokvlket Owis," textiles, acrylic paint. Machine-stitched and hand-lettered. My Mvskoke/Austrian-American Dad was told about who he is. He and his mother lost the Mvskoke language. The new language silences us from speaking the truth of who we are. I am now finding my Mvskoke voice and reclaiming the Mvskoke tongue.
Diane R. Walter (Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes), "My Love of Alaska" (series), cloth facial masks with elastic.
Tonya S. Wapskineh (Cherokee Nation/Muscogee/Seminole/Prairie Band Potawatomi), "Protecting Etsi (My Mom)," cotton purple calico fabric, with double-faced polyester ribbon in purple and deep red. Used Filtrete 1500 Virus Filter as the interfacing. Sewn by using a dust mask pattern. Created to be machine-washed and complete with safe mask user instructions. Initially made for my mom to keep her safe and protected. She is a full-blood Cherokee Elder, and I wanted her mask to be an inspiration to others in our community to protect themselves.
Tonya S. Wapskineh (Cherokee Nation/Muscogee/Seminole/Prairie Band Potawatomi), "Gatiyo (Stomp Ground) Ready," black cotton fabric, with double-faced polyester ribbon in white, grey, and teal. Used Filtrete 1500 Virus Filter as the interfacing. Sewn by using a dust mask pattern. Machine-washable with safe-use instructions. This ribbon mask was initially made for my niece to wear and matches a stomp dance skirt I made for her. We are stomp dance-ready!
Serene Weasel Traveller (Piikani Nation), "Face Mask Quilt," quilt, 175 face masks, made with 100% cotton, 57 × 76 inches. The Face Mask Quilt was created as a symbol to give comfort and protection to all Indigenous communities during these uncertain times. These face masks are quilted together as an illustration and record of the current COVID-19 global pandemic. Judge’s Choice: Candice Byrd
Crystal Worl (Tlingit/Athabascan/Yupik), "Fine Lines," hand-sewn velvet material, custom-designed by the artist.
Juli Cote (Osage), "Because I Can," Osage finger weaving with acrylic yarn on cotton backing. The nose has a wire clamp. Pocket for a filter. Fully functional.
Nicolette Corbett (Orutsararmiut Native Council, Yup’ik), "Masks for Heroes," 100% cotton material, elastic straps, masks for our healthcare heroes in Dillingham, Alaska.
Rosanne Wilson (Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove, Unangax̂), "Keep Our Town Safe," cotton fabric.
Abstraction | Four-Leggeds | From the Water | Plant World | Two-Leggeds | Winged Beings
2 Comments
This mask is gorgeous! Do you sell them?
Hi Cynthia, FAAM isn’t selling the masks, but many of the artists do have masks available. Their social media and websites are listed under their names on the main page at firstamericanartmagazine.com/masks. If no links are listed, you can always email the magazine, and we’ll happily forward your email on to the artist! Thank you so much for your interest!