Eric Schweig’s Inuit Spirit Masks
~ Stephanie Deplanque
Eric Schweig is mostly known for his work as a talented actor, The Last of the Mohicans’s character Uncas, Sitting Bull in Into the West and many roles in films such as Squanto, The Missing, Skins... But little do we know about his carving gift? Indeed, I was extremely impressed by his work as such. His ‘Spirit Masks’ are utterly amazing and the story behind them is even more touching.
Eric Schweig suffered a childhood of abuse and bad treatment from his adopted family. When you look at the masks he made in collaboration with Art Thompson: The Adoption Masks, titled Inuit Man Screaming, you can see and feel the pain and sadness although all well balanced with artistic beauty. Eric dedicated these masks to all the people, Indigenous or not, who were brutalized in their childhood.
In an interview given in January 1999 for www.Mohicanpress.com, Eric Schweig explained why the reproduction of the Spirit Masks of the Inuit people is a project that was closed to his heart:
“This mask was originally produced by Inuit People indigenous to Kodiak Island. The mask was acquired by a Russian explorer by the name of Vosnozenskii, who was part of the onslaught of foreigners who were using questionable methods to liberate Inuit masks from their makers. By reproducing these masks from the museum photos we are in fact taking them back to where they belong.”
Eric Schweig has been carving almost his entire life, since he was a child. But it was only later on that he started to consecrate more time to it. After studying under Tahltan carver Vern Etzerza, he then took upon himself the recreation of the traditional Spirit Masks of his ancestors. He immersed himself in photographs and notes he could find on various Beringian pieces that were acquired by Russian ethnographer I.G. Voznesenskii in the 19th century.
History
During the 18th century, while clashes were taking place between the French, English and Indian peoples of the Eastern North America, the Inuit and Aleuts of the Western Coast were being invaded by the Russians. A Russian interest in North American furs had resulted after the explorations of Vitus Berhing, 1741. For the next century, the Inuit and Aleutians suffered degradation, abuse, and decimation. Entire villages were forced into labor during the hunting season. When the hunting season was over, most traders would return to their homeland, but often only after having “acquired” various cultural artifacts, among which were the famous spirit masks of the native people.
Voznesenski set for America from St. Petersburg in 1839 as a member of the Zoological Society. Fur wasn't his trade. Voznesenski was exploring flora and fauna as well as collecting objects of local art, including masks in Kurily, Kamchatka and North America along the Pacific coast. (South California, 1841) There are some records of deals occurring between the Russians and the indigenous people. For example, eleven masks, repairing canoe and hunting equipment in trade for 4 rubles. They obtained 1,000 rubles to explore Kamchatka.Voznesenski exchanged much to complete his collection. He came back in 1848 with 54 cases of flora and fauna samples, insects, plants and American Indian artifacts.
These are all property of the Russian America museum in St Petersburg.
Sources:
http://studyhelps.ru/02/dok.php?id=00067
http://www.kamchatsky-krai.ru/lichnosti/biografii/voznesensky.htm
http:/www.mohicanpress.com
To have a look at some of Eric Schweig Masks:
http://www.mohicanpress.com/eric_schweig_gallery.html
Banner Graphic: www.firstpeople.us