SIGNED ADAM WELCH CHEROKEE CARVED WOOD BOOGERMAN MASK. Artist signed ADAM WELCH (1925-1985) Boogerman Mask which has exaggerated, grotesque, or comical features. It has also added materials like horsehair, fur, or cloth for the hair or beard. The face is stained a distinct yellow or ochre color, which holds various meanings in Native American and Arctic cultures, sometimes associated with the sun, light, or an old, respected figure.
ARTIST PROFILE: Wood carver Adam Welch (1925-1985) was born and raised in the Big Cove community on the Qualla Boundary and moved to Yellowhill where he raised his family. He did not turn to carving until later in life. Having discovered his talent, Welch soon learned that making work and selling work as a producing artisan presented different challenges. "It takes a lot of time and a lot of practice to carve," he recalled. "If I had to make money off the first few carvings that I did, I'd never do it." He thought about quitting the craft numerous times and credited others with encouraging him. "Many people kept encouraging me to carve," he noted. Tom Underwood of the Medicine Man Craft Shop was one of those. He also remembered Sevier Crowe, a fellow carver, as "the one that mostly kept me going when I wanted to quit."
