Hudson Museum Scavenger Hunt: Seahawk Mask
What is a transformation mask?
A transformation mask is designed to express the wearer’s transformation from one form to another—human, mythical being, animal, bird, or fish. These masks are used by the peoples of the Northwest Coast to recount stories, legends, and community history, and to teach community values.
How do transformation masks work?
Transformation masks feature two forms, one when the mask is open, and the other when it is closed. The mechanism used to open the mask can vary depending on how it is constructed. In this case, when the string of the mask is pulled, the outside, which represents a bird of prey, splits in half and opens, revealing a being within the mask.
What is the significance of this transformation mask?
This is a Kwakwaka’wakw red cedar transformation mask from British Columbia. The mask in its closed form was the inspiration for the logo of the Seattle Seahawks, a professional football team located in the Pacific Northwest. This mask was loaned to the Burke Museum in Seattle in 2014, the year that the New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
Congratulations!
You have completed the Hudson Museum Scavenger Hunt! Please enjoy the rest of the Museum and be sure to check back soon for new exhibits.