John Livingston was a non-Indigenous carver who was adopted into the Hunt family of Kwakwaka’wakw artists. Working early in their careers with some of the most renowned Northwest Coast artists, Livingston was a highly accomplished artist in his own right who is remembered for being generous with his knowledge and skills and always being respectful of Indigenous cultures and protocols. As noted in the Museum of Anthropology at UBC’s biography on Livingston, “In partnership with Tony Hunt, Livingston opened the Arts of the Raven in 1969, which was a major force in Northwest Coast art for over 20 years.” [1]

This mask is carved in alder and represents a mourning mask, which can be identified by the copper tears streaming down its face. The mask is a sensitively carved portrait with formline designs painted in red, black, and blue, and tufts of human hair pegged into the back. The smooth alder and muted palate of the paints create a soothing composition that emotes the feeling of mourning that Livingston intended, contrasting with the copper tears that promise healing and renewal.

1. John Livingston biography. UBC Museum of Anthropology. https://www.rrncommunity.org/people/3577. Accessed 28 Jan 2025.

— Christopher W. Smith