Elton Lafontaine
Bear Mask
15" H
x 12" W x 9" D
This beautifully hand carved
bear mask is made by Elton Lafontaine. Elton has been carving
for thirteen years and his art is displayed all over, this mask
is made out of western red cedar and adorned with cedar bark.
Elton Lafontaine was born
into the Cree Nation of Regina, Saskatchewan in 1974. He's been
an artist ever since he can remember. Elton's work began in Saskatchewan
working with leather.
When he moved to British Columbia
as a young adult, he carved wood under the watchful eye of his
teacher and friend, Emile Thibert. He has also been influenced
by Willy Seaweed and Bill Reid. He has worked with many local
artist such as Carl Simeon, Cris Vanedig and Beau Dick.
Elton has adopted the bold
and bright style of the Kwagiulth Nation and he particularly
enjoys carving a variety of masks.
The crest of the Bear Clan
has its origins in one of the most widely told of all Haida legends
- that of Bear Mother. She was born a chief's daughter and through
various events, became the wife of a handsome young bear who
was nephew to a great bear chief.
After giving birth to twin
cubs, her husband was killed by her real brothers on condition
that they would take the bear crest as their own, thus beginning
the bear clan.
This helped to maintain the
good relations between bears and humans and has forever established
the bear as a highly respected and powerful clan crest. Because
of its power and human qualities the bear has been understood
as an elder.
The bear shares many human
traits including appearance – in its ability to stand on
two legs. Some bears return to the same den for hibernation,
for which reason they are associated to home. Bears winter with
their young, until the young find their own way, the following
summer as yearlings, for which reason they are associated to
family. Because of human traits the bear shares, it is believed
that the bear understands human speech and thought.
Black bears are more common
in representation, with a short snout, short ears, small tail,
and sometimes hanging tongue. Grizzly bears have bigger teeth,
particularly the canine teeth, and large claws.
