Central and Southern America have a rich masking history. One of earliest examples dates

from 10000 to 12000 BC. It is a fossilised vertebra of an extinct lama representing head of

a coyote. More recent records begun during conquest of area, contemporary excavations

combined with murals by indigenous people reveal an array of styles and uses. Most of

surviving masks are apparently burial masks. Often they are carved from some form of rock or

made form clay. Skull masks, some jade encrusted, have also been excavated. These are believed

to hold spirits of gods or ancestors and when captured from an enemy take away power.

In contrast to above murals and painted vase of Mayan era show colourful

head-dresses and mask used for a variety of occasions. Masks were not only used for

entertainment and religious purposes but also by warriors. The influx of conquistadors

caused erosion of established order and imposition of catholic church. The

results of this, across whole of Central and South America, was a synthesis of Pagan and

Christian celebrations. Despite removal of ruling elite masking traditions

continued especially where associated with agriculture and fertility. (Much same as in

Europe)

The missionaries alarmed at continuing rituals encouraged local people to adapt their

festivals to Christian ones which fell close to same time of year. For example in Andes

Intirayami feel close to Carnival. The pre- Hispanic ceremonies for dead in Central America

coincided with All Souls and All Saints. Just as in Andes where ancient temples were built

upon with new churches traditions of masquerade were embodied with in new

festivals. Interestingly this had already happened as Christianity spread throughout Europe.

Within second layer of change there was already a similar layer of pre-Christian pagan

practice. The festivals that developed during these times have, in many cases, endured through

to present day.

Guatemala and Mexico

The collectors of old masks from this area find that even masks from last 30 years that

have been used in festivities fetch good prices. Masks from further, back depending upon

quality, can command even higher prices. If you have a contact in area it does help. My

sister lives in area and sometimes helps by giving me great masks. I anticipate paying but

she

is a brilliant sister. Two good galleries to contact are>>>>>>>>> and>>>>>>.

Guatemala

There are lots of good contemporary makers. I have bought several masks from mask maker on

the market in Chitchecastenango. I have a story about mask makers in this area especially for

those visiting on a tight budget. When ever visiting an area of world that is different to

your own it is useful to get as much local knowledge as possible. However sometimes local

knowledge is not enough for something new comes along......

I use this story in my mask making classes to allow people to experience cultural differences.

After a days outing with my sister, Sylvia, her daughter Antonia, my wife Dot and our two sons,

Sam and Adam, visiting various interesting places we stopped in Panahachel. It was early

evening and we were ready to relax before our evening meal, soft drinks and beer were on offer.

We were simply enjoying evening air, time of day and conversation. It had been a good

day.

Suddenly a local man and his son approached use. He was dominant. "Senor do you want to buy

this masks."

Having spent my allowance for day, and having no interest whatsoever in mask I said

"No".

The mask was a really low grade tourist mask painted blue and Yellow. It had a snake curling

around its face and two sheep or goats horns nailed to its head.

Then negotiating started.

"No thank you!" I responded, politely but firmly.

After a time you do get tired of people selling things to us gringos.

He persisted. "Senor, you can have this mask for 30 quetzales."

The area to be covered here are; The Pacific North West Coast

The masks of Pacific West Coast of North America are a reflection of lifestyle, mythology and religious beliefs of indigenous people. Here you will come across several distinct tribes, most well known being; Haida, Kwakwaka'wakw ( or Kwakiult ), Tsimshian, Tlingit, Bella Bella, Nuu-chah-Nulth and Makah. The artistic style of these peoples has a commonality in use of curved symbolry which occurs within pictures of people and creatures, both real and mythological and surface decoration. Here there are rich formalised traditions developed over many centuries to expressing individuality of area.

Art work and in particular carved wooden mask were collected from this area from time of first incursions of western sailors. Sadly diseases brought by these visitors had a devesting effect almost wiping out some of villages. Later devastation to cultures were wrought by church and local officialdom. Children were taken away from their parents and sent to boarding schools to take them away from tribal ways. Art work and ceremonial regalia were burned driving traditional practices underground. The survival of art and traditions of this area are now recognised as important. In particular traditional art work is one manner in which people of this area can communicate value of their interpretation of world to rest of us.

I had opportunity to visit this area during 2003. The whole coastal area is extremely verdant. Tall temperate rain forest trees grow to edge of sea. Wild life abounds in sea and forest. Salmon and whales are common in sea and deer and other game animals fill forests. The area is abundant in all those things that makes a hunting collecting way of life natural choice for inhabitants. The mountainous terrain also forces settlements to be near sea or in valleys.

Visiting this area during August we soon became aware of salmon swimming up river to spawn. These were not large rivers but shallow tidal outlets only a few centimetres deep. Each square metre of water could be populated by as may as 8 fully grown fish. With my untrained eye I noticed at least 5 species of salmon. To fish in these waters would be of no difficulty even for amateur. As we moved further upstream final demise of these abundant creatures became noticeable as smell of rotting fish pervaded air.

Despite hearing tales of over fishing, such local abundance is hard to visualise unless you have experienced it. In particular having lived in Britain most of my life I have always appreciated wild salmon as an expensive luxury. Here it is so common it rots away after spawning.

As well as appreciating natural beauty of area beauty of local craftsmanship in carving is apparent in galleries and craft shops of area. In particular I enjoyed galleries in Victoria, Vancouver Island. Within this very compact city there are many galleries displaying a whole range of local art. For me delight was exquisite mask and carvings. Some of them truly of museum quality. I

If you are interested in art of this area then galleries of Victoria are a worthwhile starting point. Other galleries can be accessed on cruises to Alaska.

An overview of mask of area

The masks of North America can be divided into four obvious groups. The links between some of rituals behind masks are apparent and there are also strong thematic links to African masks through remembrance of and devotion to ancestors. Coming of age and initiation ceremonies also play a part.

Only northern peoples will be considered here.

Inuit

Some experts believe that masquerade tradition only began with influence of European settlers. This is contradicted by fact that some ivory burial masks have been excavated from 2000 years ago. The practice of dancing with masks does seem to be a much later development. Yet in contradiction shamanism was a notable part of cultures in this and surrounding this area. Also land bridge traversed by earliest people to spread from Europe in this area forced people to pass this way. I find it difficult to accept that masked shamanistic ceremonies were not a part of culture.

Dance masks were generally made for shaman who linked community to spirit world. Most important ceremonies took place in winter. Typically, masks represented spirit of animals and natural phenomena as visualised by shaman. Essentially two dimensional, as opposed to three dimensional forms of West coast traditions, masks were painted in black, white, red and blue. Constructed from an outer wheel of willow bands, supporting various emblems, surrounding a flat central area representing face masks synthesise human and animal elements.

Some other areas produced less elaborate designs. During dance swaying chorus of women would wear small finger masks. <

Pacific North West Coast Masks of this area must be considered in light of how local people were forced by settlers to abandon their own ways. Laws were passed to outlaw Potlatch and force native children into a Christian way of life and a European style education. A large seizure of Kwakiutl ritual artefacts was made in 1921 by police in Alert Bay. Some of traditions managed to flourish underground, notable Kwakiutl, where there are direct links between contemporary makers and older traditions. Modern mask makers have developed styles of their forbears as need to re-establish old traditions has emerged.

The People of this area used natural wealth of land and sea as their means of subsistence. The abundance of natural food allowed it to be stored for winter months and gave opportunity for practice of elaborate ceremonies during these colder months.

Devastation by Disease

A large number of native people lost their lives due to introduction of foreign diseases. In particular smallpox decimated population of many areas. The Haida in particular were reduced from about 8000 before arrival of Europeans to 800 by 1880.

Potlatch