Owl to Person Transformation

Owl to Person Transformation, by Sean Gallagher, artist's website, photo by NonFiction Media

Owl to Person Transformation, by Sean Gallagher, artist's website, photo by NonFiction Media

Name/Title

Owl to Person Transformation

Entry/Object ID

2023.1.30

Description

Alder, red cedar, and white oak carved mask accented with acrylic paint and seine net line. The mask is an owl face transforming to human, encircled by a bent wood frame.

Type of Sculpture

Carving

Artwork Details

Medium

Wood, Acrylic

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Sean Gallagher

Role

Carver

Date made

2019

Dimensions

Height

18 in

Width

15 in

Depth

2 in

Copyright

Copyright Holder

Sean Gallagher

Interpretative Labels

Label

Gallagher (Asuruk, Inupiaq) specializes in carving, two and three-dimensional art. Owl to Person Transformation is a depiction of the relationship the snowy owl and Inupiat has with the arctic lands. The owl's main food staple, lemmings, are threatened by climate change.

Label

This mask is a depiction the relationship of the snowy owl and Iñupiat to the arctic lands. The owls main food staple, lemmings, are threatened by climate change because they need deep fluffy snow to insulate them from the elements of the harsh arctic winter. Lemming population numbers are dwindling under this new pressure and the owls existence is also being threatened because the lemming are a part of their primary diet. Humans are facing a similar fate and our Indigenous food systems are under a similar pressure.