Blood Brothers
Materials used:
- wood base, Montana;
- two brown and white painted plaster casts of my face;
- pond grass, Montana;
- feathers: pheasant, chicken, Montana
The Lakota say in their language MITAKUYE YUHA OYASIN, which means “my relations, I recognize them all” as a blessing and affirmation. In one sense, we are all relatives, as we all belong to the human race, each of us incarnated together in this lifetime, this space and time. In that global sense, there are no boundaries, no distinctions of race or nationality, no differences between us all so big that our relationship could be negated.
This art honors that kinship, that blood connection. This Mask Artistry piece, “Blood Brothers,” is the representation of that honoring of family. The two masks are similar, but somewhat different in design… perhaps they are brothers from the same family, or the same tribe – or they are from two different, neighboring tribes on the same continent. Perhaps, even, they might have origins from the two points on the planet that are the farthest away from each other, and therefore share no similarities of language, lifestyle, belief systems, or cultural traditions. If that is, in fact, the case, then these two figures are still connected, still related, still both have human hearts beating blood…and are, truly, Blood Brothers. Or, maybe, they are best friends, trusted companions. Do you remember, in childhood, you and your best buddy pricked your fingers to draw a tiny speck of red blood and touched fingertips? Instantly, you became blood brothers or sisters and vowed to stay “besties” forever. Family…it’s all family…
No matter the backstories of these two masked figures, I see them as blood brothers in the largest and grandest sense. The materials for “Blood Brothers” are simple: a wood base, brown and white painted plaster faces, long pond grass and feathers. The combination of these few materials culminate in a very tribal feel that is primal, expressive and connected.
I honor the kinship of blood brothers, everywhere.
“All my relations”---and blessings to our Family.