2-3 day workshops – Ceremonial Mask Making Workshop

Description

Masks have been part of dance regalia and traditional ceremonies in many Indian tribes since ancient times.

The most renowned native mask-makers were the Northwest Coast Indians, who carved elaborate cedar dance masks. The most impressive of these could be opened at a pivotal point in the story to reveal a second face carved within the first one. The Hopi and other Pueblo Indians carve and paint wooden Kachina masks for their traditional dances; the Iroquois create sacred “false face” masks from wood and cornhusks, the Navajo and Apache make leather masks for dancing, and the Cherokee would craft gourd masks for storytelling.

We will explore the use of masks for transformation and expression of Spirit. We will work in sacred space and step into an ancient river of tradition to design and create our own masks. We will use plaster casting material, paint, wool, fabric, beads, feathers and other natural materials. We then will bring our masks alive and give them voice through ritual and ceremony, including a dance of masks inspired by shamanic drumming.