A special workshop led by Jeffrey Tibbetts, was held at the Silver Bay Public Library on Thursday, March 27th. It blended ceremony, culture and art. Attendees got to witness stories and learn about special rituals of the Ojibwe people. They were also able to have a unique hands-on experience carving their own piece of artwork, of which they learned about earlier in the workshop. During this three-hour class, participants carved a physical representation of their clan from soap stone, all while developing an understanding of the Ojibwe world view. There were seven original clans. The different clans represented different aspects of the Ojibwe society, such as political leaders that came from the loon or crane clans, while warriors were traditionally from the bear, martin, lynx, and wolf clans. There were also genealogists, which were very important. The workshop was very educational and memorable.
Jeffrey Tibbetts’ cultural values are at the forefront of his workshop. During the workshop he shared his culture, artwork, and tools he has learned along the way from his father and other mentors. He shared the intricate artwork of a pipe that his father made for him. Jeffrey wrote, “I create a space of cultural sharing and celebration into all the places I have presented at. This I do to not only share my Ojibwe culture but also to help bring each participant’s gift of creativity to the surface.”
Jeffrey worked at the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 2009 and currently works as a Program Director at the Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College. He is a self-taught artist, and tries to implement art into many aspects of his life and work. His fascination with art began as a child by watching his father whittle, creating one thing into another. This has been his approach to much of his artwork. The artwork he produces comes from many different sources and he has used many different mediums over the years. He often leans towards the subtractive nature, which he taught about during his workshop. He enjoys finding and creating the “discovery” of what is hidden inside the medium he is working on.
Subtractive art, or reductive art, is a technique where material is removed or carved away to create a final sculpture or object, starting with a larger block and gradually removing portions until the desired form is achieved.
Being Anishinaabe, his cultural values are at the forefront of his workshop. He creates an educational and welcoming environment for all.
The workshop was completely free of charge and was made possible and sponsored by the Arrowhead Library System. It was funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACH). The addition to the Silver Bay Public Library has also made it possible for this workshop and other programs to be offered at the library, which previously were not due to limited space.
Keep posted for some upcoming programs at the library:
CREATIVE WRITING WITH BRIAN MALLOY
- Poetry – April 9 @ 6:00-8:00pm
- Funny Stuff – April 16 @ 6:00-8:00pm
- Nature Writing – April 23 @ 6:00-8:00pm
INK WASH ART WITH PAULA ANDERSON
- Friday, April 25 @ 2:00 – 3:30pm
- Free, but registration is required – please call or sign up at the library
The Silver Bay Public Library is a wonderful resource for the community and offers a wide range of activities. Be sure to check out your local library’s facebook and calendar of events.
