Corey Bulpitt Haida Mask 'Gagiid Coming Back'

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"The Gagiid, or Gaagiixid is a person lost at sea that comes to shore and is enticed by land otter people, who will transform to have the appearance of relatives or loved ones.  But you can see by their webbed fingers that they are tricksters trying to lure you into their realm.
The wild person can become crazed and will be always looking for a fire as they eat raw spiny fish, urchins and whatever they can forage for.  Sometimes they can come back to human form by the work of shaman and secret society members.  This mask is loosely based on an older Haida mask.  Mine represents a man in his initiations to come back. These dances are also part of the potlatch and are done at the beginning before the peace dances.  In the old days these dances could last a day or more along with other secret society dances, songs and performances with slight of hand tricks involving puppets.  And also initiations of new members of various societies are done."    Corey Bulpitt

Design and Materials

Corey uses deep textures and stark color contrasts to convey the Gagiid’s unsettling nature:

• The Face: Carved from red cedar and finished with a dark stain that mimics skin weathered by the sea and forest.
• The Eyes: The wide, circular white eyes, the focal point captures the Gagiid in the transition of returning to humanity, reflecting a mixture of shock, wildness, and reawakening. The tiny red pupils add an intense, supernatural glint.
• Markings: Delicate red line-work on the cheeks and forehead represent traditional Haida tattoos or the scarring/weathering of the spirit.
• Hair: The mask is crowned with a thick, wild head of unkempt hair, emphasizing the character’s feral state after living in the wilderness.

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