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Many questions remain concerning the contents of the
longhouses excavated at Ozette. One of the most intriguing is
the nature of its art, which was pervasive. More than 400 artifacts
stored at the Makah Cultural Center might be considered art.
Although a few pieces, such as the well-known carved whale
saddle,
are (presumably) ritualistic, most are everyday objects, combs,
bowls, clubs, embellished with designs.
Jeff Mauger (PhD ’78), an archaeologist at Peninsula Community
College in Port Angeles, earned his doctorate from WSU, analyzing
the shed-roof style of the houses at Ozette and their relation to
the style throughout the Northwest coast. Since then he has
gradually left field work, turning instead to research and
analysis—and to art. Besides his science, Mauger is a
silversmith, creating jewelry inspired by Northwest Coast and
Makah design.
“For whatever reasons,” he writes in an artist’s statement, “tribal
art has always evoked a deep emotional response within me and
Northwest Coast Indian art traditions in particular are an early
and continued passion.”
Mauger’s work is inspired by Makah designs. “I try to understand
the structure and elements of those designs to produce art that
falls in that tradition.”
Individual designs are owned by families or individuals
themselves. The design may have come to the creator in a
dream. “It is a very personal and closed expression of their
culture,” says Mauger, “and there was this concern, they saw a lot
of people doing Northwest coast art and benefitin commercially from
it, who from a cultural perspective really had no business doing
it.
“I have to say I was probably one of them, too,” he says,
referring to his early days before the truth dawned on him.
“To work within the tradition, which is what I try to do, you
have to reach a level of technical competence and an appreciation
and acknowledgement of where that art comes from.”
Mauger is also now at work on a book about Ozette art.
“Ozette gave us the largest single collection of southern
Northwest coast art from a single place in a single period,” he
says. “Not only that, but you can look at variations between
households and families. There’s great potential.”
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