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Lesson Plans


Re: Gourd masks

From: Donald Peters (softsnow)
Date: Sat Feb 26 2000 - 14:16:14 PST

  • Next message: LMiller435: "Birdhouse gourds"

    I also use birdhouse gourds. Have been meaning to try to raise some water
    gourds (four times as big) but haven't found the space yet.

    Specifically
    >what references do you use, and how do you present them?

    I have some pictures of gourd masks made by the Iroquois and some history
    behind why they made the masks that I found on the internet... I printed all
    of this off as at the time the leaders of the Native American nations were
    calling for all religious artifacts to be removed from the internet. (did
    this happen?) I tie it in with the Native American studies they do in their
    classroom to help reinforce learning.
    >
    >Also, will I have to bleach the mildew off of them, then let them dry again
    >before students can begin painting them?

    I have the students scrape the insides with a spoon to get as much of the
    lining out as possibe (this is what smells!) Then they scrub the outside
    with a very mild water/bleach solution. They do have to dry again before
    painting (one class period for scraping and washing) Some of the mildew
    spots stain the gourds, but I feel this adds to the personality of the mask.

    Do you just paint your masks, or do
    >you add appendages such as nose, hair and ears? What other kinds of
    >ornamentation do you suggest?

    We paint symbols and designs on the gourds (the references I have only have
    eye openings--no nose or mouth suggested) We then add raffia for hair and
    string nuts, seed pods and shells on simulated sinew to hang off the sides
    (my example even has a tail from some animal that was in my classroom when I
    took it over)

    Pat

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