Of Fox and Others

[smokingboot]

I need a fox mask; the one I have is hopeless (if you know anyone who could make a wearable bearable fox mask, do let me know) so I was searching the web when I came across the site below. It is dedicated to the Yup'iq culture of Alaska, and explains the masks, stories and shamanic beliefs of the people. There were several things that impressed me about it; the first was that all the animal masks have people's faces on them somewhere, as part of the belief that every animal has 'personhood' within them, and should be respected.

The second is the way each page is set up. First there is the mask, followed by the story, then as the page goes down, basic biological information about the animal and then, underneath, one or two thoughtful questions: On the fox page it asks

Are there any similarities between a fox's community and your community? If so, what?

On the wolf page it asks:

What in your community would be improved if you or other members of your community could call on the power of the wolf?

On the bear page, after talking about the respect that must be paid to bears it asks:

What person or animal in your community do your elders tell you to treat with respect and never criticize? Why?

Good questions. There's something about this approach I really like. Here's the link:
http://www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/yupik_backup/lessons/ecology/foxes.html

Comments

[load-of-flannel.livejournal.com]

Do you need the mask for LRP or ritual?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

LRP.

Though a fox mask for ritual is something I'm looking for as well. But I can take more time with that...

[load-of-flannel.livejournal.com]

Id advise a half mask rather than a full one.... (mask on my Icon is a half mask... runs forhead to top lip.)

I believe Pete Williams already has a mold for a fox, plays Jazrael in the Dragons camp... I can introduce you at the HG if you want... if you have time he could take a face cast and make it to fit you exactly...

When do you need it by?

Thanks!

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

This sounds like a great idea. I wassn't thinking of going...when is the HG?

I need the mask for the next maelstrom.

[load-of-flannel.livejournal.com]

Heartland games is second may bank holiday...

I don't think he has e-mail... hmmm....

Do you live near southwales perchance?

When is the nexy Maelstrom...


Main thing about a half mask is that the extend your muzzle/nose.... this makes it easy to talk and such but makes drinking rather difficult... thus you should develop some species specific tribal drinking tools (or tubes...)

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

So far I have a half face, but it is made of latex that sticks right to the skin and gets really hot, like gum...moisture dribbles down my face, collects in the long snout and drips regularly. It's horrible!

I'll go and check my dates re HG...

[erestania.livejournal.com]

In terms of the dripping from muzzle/beak, both invisible_al and I have resorted to stuffing a tissue in the protuberance and that seemed to help a lot. It's cheap, easy to replace when necessary and works.

In terms of having latex right close to the skin, have you thought of lining the mask with linen or cotton or some kind of fabric? It would possibly mean that you would need to get elastic to hold the mask on with (if you are not happy with haveing stuff latexed to your skin, but could be an answer to the ickyness of sweaty latex.

What do you think?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thanks, these are very good ideas!

I haven't tried stuffing anything into the snout yet, I'll certainly give it a go.

I did add cotton strips above the eyes and on the cheeks, which worked the first time I wore them, but this time they itched really horribly, no idea why... I have been diagnosed with psoriasis recently so maybe this was just a pre-outbreak sort of thing. In the end I took them off because they were falling apart and really scratchy. Naturally it just made matters worse! Because I'm supposed to be doing camera work, I didn't put on any make up underneath, so there was no reason for it. maybe I need a different kind of fabric...

Mask

[the-lore.livejournal.com]

Hi

The mask on the link is not that difficult to make... I'd agree that you would need to style this into a half mask, but this would lose the look.

I can make it in Clay; you can then use a number of molding materials to make (http://www.artmolds.com/category28.cfm). If you make the Beltane Bash perhaps we could design it then?

Lorna

Re: Mask

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you my dear you are too kind:-)

The mask on the link won't do, for all it's fantastic, because I need something more recognisably foxy abnd less like a sacred mask imbued with the power of fox. I would love a clay fox mask of this kind, but I would not use it for larp!

But cheers for the offer anyway. When is the Beltaine Bash?

[redstorm.livejournal.com]

Bit late, but if you still need a fox mask:

http://www.primalvisions.com