| Summary: | Moses Wassilie is a Yupik living in Anchorage, Alaska. About the Piece: "Created to commemorate the 9/11 and other holocausts which took many lives, not only in America but everywhere on Mother Earth. Especially for our Alaska Natives who were almost decimated by disease, wars, and current calamities. The blue hoop that Raven is entering symbolizes the Spirit World which we all enter upon death as we embark upon our afterlife journey. The implements all have a purpose; the harpoon provides tools for obtaining food along the way, the shield protects in the event of hostile attack, the fur keeps the throat warm, and the tinted caribou fur and flashing red light serve as a warning that we are ever vigilant." About the Artist: "The artist was born in a sod house at Nunapitchuk in Southwest Alaska in 1946; mother is Lucy Jacob, traditional Yupik dancer and subsistence trained woman and father was Wassilie B. Evan, subsistence Hunter and Fisherman and leader from Napapskiak. As a young boy, Moses spent his grade school years at the Moravian Children's Home in Kwethluk .graduated from Mt. Edgecumbe boarding school in 1967 where he started painting portraits using charcoal on Sitka pulp mill paper. Other schools include the Institute of Alaska Native Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico to study painting and the University of Alaska Fairbanks under Ron Senungetuck to study carving. The artist paints with pastel, acrylic and oil; was also trained by Paul Tiulana to produce King Island style drums, driftwood carvings and masks, and self-taught ivory jewelry." Information provided by the artist. eskimoe@alaska.net. Phone: 907.333.3069 PO Box 211224, Anchorage, AK 99521-1224. This piece is one of several donated by Norman and Louise Rose to the UWB Library. The others are titled Halibut Spirit Mask "Sweet Lips!," "Harpoon," and "Wolf Bear Mask."
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