This is my stylus pen. This pen has been through more handling than you could ever imagine. I got it as a gift this past Christmas to use on my iPad, which I had bought earlier that year with my money. Since then, I have been using it frequently. Over the quarantine, I have at least picked it up three times a day, whether to draw, flip around in my hands or to just look cooler whilst I do whatever I was doing. As you can see, the top part of the pen paint is chipping. You can’t see this but the pen-tip is chipping, and no matter how much I charge it that one side (pen-tip) is not working. (but don’t worry the other side still works.)
Materials: Medical face mask covered with dried juniper leaves and accented with genuine turquoise stones, lily grass ties accented with abalone shells
In my Pueblos, juniper (Keres: k’aani) is an important medicinal plant and one of my favorites. I have been studying medicinal plants since I was 13 years old. I wanted to create a piece that integrates my skills as a floral designer and medicinal plant healer.
The medicinal properties of juniper are identified as an antimicrobial and antiviral medicine for respiratory illnesses. The scent of the juniper leaves can be smelled through the mask like the cleansing smell of a smudge. Juniper is very special to the Pueblo people in that the tree is an evergreen and never goes to sleep in the winter. They are a plant medicine available year round.
The mask is accented with turquoise stones worn often by the Pueblo people and represent health. Abalone shells are from the ocean and symbolize rain. Pueblo people always pray for rain and moisture in every aspect of our lives and ceremonies. Rain is important because it contributes to the growth of plants which help provide oxygen for breath needed by all living creatures.
This mask was created for the Breathe community Facebook group – A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic.
Materials: Red wool cloth, glass beads, cotton calico, and bias tape
During this time of isolation I have remained on the job as an essential worker- nurse. I have advised my patients family friends and community members to “Stay Home”. My contacts are with members of my community-well patients and sick-possible Covid exposures. To help me ease the restricted contact I am allowed, I created a mask with the words “Stay Home” beaded on the mask. The top blue line represents the blue sky as I hope everyone can see another day. The bottom green line for the grass- mother earth so we may all walk the path of life for another day. Lastly the small flower buds so we may all grow big, strong, and healthy so we may survive this pandemic.
This mask was created for the Breathe community Facebook group – A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic.
Artist: Brenda Mahan Koyukon Athabascan Born in Galena, Alaska Currently live in Fallon, Nevada USA Model: Roy C. Mahan, Jr.
Everyone knows the pink ribbon stands for breast cancer. I had no idea what the white ribbon stood for, that is until January 2019 when my husband, Roy was diagnosed with lung cancer. Roy worked for the Anchorage Fire Department for 28 years as a fire fighter. He retired as Captain from downtown Station 1, Anchorage, Alaska.
The raven represents the Celtic/Norse warrior not to mention in Alaska Native culture, it is a trickster. Inside the raven is the trinity knot, representing the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The black and white border is something I took from my maternal grandmother, Lilly Henry. She was a full Athabascan woman from Old Louden/Galena, Alaska. She was an exquisite beader as is my mother, Madeline Krol.
My husband is Irish so he comes with attitude but when cancer came into our life, his will to live, really live, has taken command, hence, ATTITUDE!
Be safe, stay home and really live ♡
This mask was created for the Breathe community Facebook group – A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic.
"Attitude"Everyone knows the pink ribbon stands for breast cancer. I had no idea what the white ribbon stood for,…
Materials: Moose hide, size 11 seed beads, backing is ultrasuede
As I worked on my mask, I was able to escape the horrors happening around me with the global pandemic. This mask represents me and my Athabascan heritage as I was born in Galena, Alaska to a full Athabascan woman. She was not able to teach me beadwork as she wanted the best for me and decided to give me up for adoption; a truly selfless loving act. I am very grateful. I have spent the last 15 years learning about Athabascan beadwork through books and Facebook friends who turned out to be distant cousins.❤
This spring everything is budding, everything is new and fresh just like the flower on my mask. Stay safe!
This mask was created for the Breathe community Facebook group – A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic.
"Spring", Athabascan moosehide mask made for Breathe. facebook group.Okay, I stopped trying to make bread. I can't…
Materials: White deer buckskin, dyed horse hair, crowie shells, glass beads, sinew, cotton thread, acrylic paint and duct tape.
“Good air” (finished 4-29-20) victory mask. I used my Dad’s sinew thread to sew part of mask, he passed away in 2002. Sacred colors, shapes, spiritual memories and ancestors are part of the story of the now time I am living. Wellness and respect to all. Lori New Breast Pikuni/Blackfeet, member of the the Blackfoot Confederacy.
This mask was created for the Breathe community Facebook group – A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic.
Materials: Smoked elk hide with some old-time beadwork little bit of French sequins and a whole lotta lovin... Representing the northern Ute and the Navajo Nation
My traditional mask made out of smoke hide… French sequins and beadwork
This mask was created for the Breathe community Facebook group – A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic.
Submitted by: Harold weasel tail Garcia from the land of many wives Utah
Materials: Using smoked hide traditionally hand scrape and hand soft elk hide with French sequins in traditional seed beads
My name is Harold weasel tail Garcia of the Navajo Nation…. From the land of many wives salt lake City Utah., Just trying to keep up with my tradition using traditional material
This mask was created for the Breathe community Facebook group – A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic.
Materials: Black damask of stylized woven roses, embroidered commercial appliqué of roses with leafs, assorted beads and Druze rock slices, miscellaneous further embellishments.
I remembered I had this rose ‘applique’ which I purchased ages ago for a reason that now escapes me! The black background fabric is a gorgeous piece of black on black damask in stylized roses.
As I begin to formulate my ideas, I also let my materials talk to me. My approach is rather acidic and sardonic…softened by the use of beautiful beads, for life is full of irony, isn’t it?
The roses represent all that was expected, accepted, familiar, and usual in our lives before we were jerked into this new reality…but also, as a living plant, a source of oxygen for us to breathe.
I wanted something alien and harsh to finish my approach. These ringed druzi stones were perfect. As I added beads to them, I wanted to tell the story of these harsh, sharp ‘alien’ forms that appear mild upon entering our body, only to suddenly turn into vicious wild attack dogs as they move down into our lungs, eating up prized healthy lung tissue as they rapidly multiply. I hope they illustrate my anger at what they do to us…this interruption of all our lives.
Red beads show the blood flow through our lungs, and the destruction that occurs, while the mixture of dull colored beads represent the chaotic rampage of the invading virus.
I needed to get this angst out of my head, out of my system, and am thankful I have art as my vehicle. I’m gluing the pieces on as fine sewing and beading are out of my league anymore with these old hands and eyes. It will work and serve its purpose. And now, it is finished…..
This mask was created for the Breathe community Facebook group – A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic.
Please add your completed masks into this album. We welcome you to add a description of some of your thoughts around completing your mask during this challenging time.
