The other day Al went to Horseshoe Bay to meet up with artist Patrick Amos. Pat had made a Whaler’s Moon Mask for him. It is a fine addition to our collection of North-West Coast artwork and particularly special to Alan. He’s spent almost of his professional life as an archaeologist on digs in Nuu-chah-nulth territory, either in Port Alberni, Barkley Sound or off Ucluelet harbour. I will add his description of this mask.

“Whaler’s Moon” mask by Nuu-chah-nulth artist Patrick Amos 2011.

The main figure, the face representing the moon, is the whaler (the Nuu-chah-nulth were the only Northwest Coast First Nation to actively hunt whales). Above the human whaler is Thunderbird, the whaler of the supernatural realm. The Thunderbird hunts whales by hurling the lightning serpent, which serves as his harpoon (so lightning and thunder from his wings crashing indicate when the Thunderbird is whaling). Lightning Serpents can be seen on each side of the whaler’s face. At the bottom is a whaling scene showing two whalers in their canoe, a harpooned humpback whale, and the floats and line joining them.

Interesting additions to the carved cedar are a cedar-bark rope surrounding the piece, copper knees and blue trade-bead eyes on the thunderbird, deer-hide whiskers on the moon-man, hide for the bladder floats and lots of abalone inserts. Alan’s very happy with his new acquisition!