JR ARTISTS::Rylee Petkau

On Saturday we had the great pleasure of a clay mask workshop at the library taught by local potter Rylee Petkau.  In spite of horrid blizzard conditions we still had a terrific turnout and the kids had a blast.  Rylee teaches clay classes in schools and she was wonderful with the kids.  I especially loved how each of their masks turned out so individually.

The masks were based on the Iroquois tradition of mask-making, the wearers were known the 'False Face Society', which were used to invoke spirits to combat illness and misfortune.  The Midwinter Dream Festival was one of the most sacred festivals, in which the False Faces led the communal dream interpretation in the belief that our souls have inborn desires which are apparent in dreams.  In order to heal, they believed that the dreamer needed to follow those dreams.   Sometimes we need reminding.