Passage
Medium: Antique hand carved African tribal mask and Kuba cloth textile mounted on reclaimed barn wood, 1800’s German Bible, Nepalese Paper, Waxed Linen Thread, Ethiopian Coptic Stitching
Artist Comments: African tribal masks have a significant historical, ceremonial, mystical, religious, and spiritual meaning and function. This small hand held wood and tin mask was used in the initiation ceremony at the passage of a boy into manhood. The ceremony might include song, dance, and prayer to the spirits of ancestors. This mask most likely depicts an ancestor, and the purpose would be to gain favor and to help the boy to learn and to keep the behavior needed to be a good member of the tribe. Today, Western Christianity is rediscovering the importance of recognizing male rite of passage and masculine spirituality through formal scripture and prayer based initiation retreats and ceremonies for boys and their families.
21H X 10W X 3D
