This collection of masks was created throughout 2009 following a dream invitation to develop tangible representations of the spiritual wealth and guidance offered by the dream world.

The first dream I translated into a mask was one of a tribal symbol of initiation and power titled, “Hey Mike, Your Tattoo Wants My Number.”  The appearance of this symbol announced that I was being courted for a new body of work.  My maternal great grandmother, Julia Griffith Moore, was next with “White Lace and Philodendron” in which she was holding court on the dju dju of seduction.  Then came the dream world’s challenge to find the true gem in the crowd, be attentive, and stretch far beyond the usual comfort level in“The Buddha’s Hair.”

This catalogue is organized into six chapters, allowing pieces to be arranged according to the medicine they carry – Prayers, Poems, and Meditations; Chants, Songs, and Symbols; Ancestors, Allies, and Shamans; Creation, Cosmos, and Nature; Roots, Rituals, and Revelry; and Passion, Elegance, and Vulnerability.

Each dream mask is about 3/4 life size.  They are high fire glazed, with stains and low fire glaze added to some as an additional layer.  As a third layer, a few have white and yellow gold and copper lusters applied. In addition, there may be elemental attachments such as glass beads, semi-precious stones, bones, seeds, pods, seashells, fossils, feathers, and other objects.

Sweet dreams and transformative visions,
Patricia Gay