Reggie Meredith Fitiao, a siapo (beaten barkcloth or tapa) maker from American Samoa, created this mask in response to COVID. She featured the centipede—a symbol of resilience, protection, and strength in Samoan culture. The centipede motif can also be seen on a much older and larger siapo in the care of the Peabody Museum. In Samoa, siapo is a cultural art form dating…
A Symbol of Strength and Resilience: Siapo (Barkcloth) Mask
