Images from The Graese Gallery Ceremony Drum by Jerry Lieb, Jr. (Silvaluaq), Yupik, Bethel, Alaska, 2002 Click on images below to see larger images NMM 10438.  Ceremony drum by Jerry Lieb, Jr. (also known as Sivaluaq in Inupiaq), Yupik, Bethel, Alaska, 2002. Frame drum of pressed birch strips, steamed and bent. Drumhead of ceconite, a synthetic polyester fiber used in small aircraft construction, known for precision shrinkage, an important factor in frame drum construction. Three-pronged caribou antler as handle. Painting on drumhead depicts the mating dance of the cranes native to southwestern Alaska. Gift of André P. Larson, Vermillion, South Dakota, 2003. Jerry Lieb, Jr. learned the art of drum making from an elder in Kodiak. The stories depicted by his paintings are from Yup'ik or Inupiaq tradition, his life, and/or stories told by the elders. According to Lieb, "It's said that the outer rim of the Eskimo drum is considered to be the circle of life. And the handle of the drum is like an umbilical cord. So when you pick it up you are connected, and when you play it, you listen to your heart. For that is where all your songs come from. The reason for the circle of life is because a long time ago the Eskimos and Indians didn't get along. We used to war with, and kill each other over hunting on the lands. Once an Indian came onto Eskimo land, and an Eskimo seen him, so he pulled out his bow and arrow to kill him. Well, the Indian didn't have his bow and arrow, so he pulled out his drum and began to play it. The Eskimo saw that he didn't have a weapon, so he let him live. Thus the reason for the circle of life." NMM M-368. Sculpture of Yu'pik drummer by Ricky Kuzuguk, Shishmaref, Alaska, ca. 2003. Body carved out of whalebone; inlaid face carved from ivory; baleen drum handle, eyes, and decorative dots inlaid into body; wooden drum stick. Gift of André P. Larson, Vermillion, 2003. The Crane's Mating Dance Regarding the symbolism of the "Mating Cranes" painting, the maker notes: "When the cranes arrive in the spring, the search for a mate begins. And often times they will conduct a very elaborate dance to attract a partner. On the body of the crane which I have painted is a Spirit Mask of a woman who is also known to strut her stuff to attract a partner. You'll notice that on the Spirit Mask of the woman, there is a nose ring. I painted this because in the old days the women would pierce their nose and attach a ring."   Click arrow to continue Graese Gallery Tour Go to Graese Gallery Tour Index Go to Virtual Gallery Tour Index Go to Checklist of Musical Instruments of the Indigenous Peoples of North America National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD   57069 ©National Music Museum, 2007-2016 Most recent update:   January 30, 2016 The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page