Photos: 'Aggravated Organizms'

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Aggravated Organizms is a collaborative art project by Alaska Native artists Drew Michael and Elizabeth Ellis, opening June 21 at Out North. The 10 large masks each explore a different disease, from Hepatitis to Alzheimer's. June 6, 2013

The art show by Drew Michael and Liz Ellis is called "Aggravated Organizms," and it confronts the most prevalent and sensitive diseases in Alaska, asking the viewer to engage in a conversation about a subject often seen as sensitive or taboo. "People have been at my house crying," Michael said. "You can look at all the pieces and say that's my mom, that's my aunt, that's me." The show consists of nearly a dozen 4-foot masks mounted on metal frames. Both artists call the collaboration the biggest project of their careers – in the scale of the work, the potential partnerships, and the impact they hope it will have on Alaska. It debuts 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Out North Contemporary Art House.

Read more: 'Aggravated Organizms' confronts Alaska's biggest enemies