The Sea Bear Transformation mask at the Montclair Museum was carved by Don Svanvik of the Kwakwaka'wakw. It is made mostly out of painted wood. When it is in the closed position it looks like the head of an animal, and the sides are painted green, the lips and nostrils are red, and the eyes and nose are black. On the top of the head there is straw or bark fiber sticking up, and this continues around the back of the head to create a sort of mane. In the mane, two green webbed ears stick out. The head has a set of teeth painted on in white. There are splits in the wood under the teeth to make a jaw, and another split down the length of the nose. These make three jointed parts so that the mask can open up.
When the mask is open, one can see that
When the mask is open, one can see that