Goodnews Bay 3-D

Goodnews Bay School students learned about making miniature Yup'ik Masks from Artist John Oscar (top left corner) with mixed media during a inspiring two day workshop. Photos courtesy of Atsaq.Art/Christian Espinosa

by Atsaq Staff Writer

April 7, 2023: It was a cool breezy Monday morning in the village of Goodnews Bay 115 miles south of Bethel, Alaska. Surrounded by the Ahklun mountains, the students at the Rocky Mountain School were getting ready to test their artistic talent.

Christian Espinosa, a K-12 School Social Worker, invited John Oscar of Atsaq Art from Bethel, for a 2-day workshop at the Rocky Mountain School in Goodnews Bay. Espinosa was able to obtain a sponsorship through the Indian Health Services and Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium with a 5-year suicide prevention grant, which helps fund the only full-time village school social work position in all the Lower Kuskokwim School District.

Espinosa said that “John Oscar is an innovator who is facilitating a movement toward reclaiming and reconnecting with Yup’ik masks in a contemporary format. Oscar utilizes nature and animals as his inspiration to harmonize humanity to value and protect these vital resources.”

The students watched an instructional video by John Oscar, showing the process it took to make miniature masks. Afterward, the children were extremely excited to make their masks. They ran back and forth for decorations and supplies, while the assistant teachers remarkably kept a controlled flow of happy children wanting to flex their talent.

The schedule went smoothly by putting them into three groups. Each used materials that best fit their age group. The sixth through 12th grades worked firsthand with a coping saw, bench pin, curved knife, filing, sanding, and painting. While the K-5 used material made from confetti, beads, feathers, cardboard, craft pipe cleaners and acrylic paint. The little ones painted their commercial flat wood and paper designs while the older kids made rough cuts of spruce bark wood. The second day involved finishing and detailing the masks.

Principal Paula Newell caught up with Oscar in Espinosa’s office and said, “One of the kindergartners ran into my office so excited to show off his work with immense pride and joy saying, ‘I did it myself!” Principal Newell’s eyes sparkled with joy. Then Oscar said, “These are small moments you never forget. The work instills confidence and inspiration,” while lightly clenching his hand in agreement and a twinkle of joy in his eyes as well.

“Ever since I first met John Oscar in 2021, I knew that I needed to find a way to bring him to Rocky Mountain School. Oscar is a natural teacher who shares his gift of guiding young people to find healthy and creative coping outlets, rather than destructive ones. Oscar takes immense pride in his Yup’ik heritage and uses art as an avenue toward building student’s self-esteem, promoting emotional healing, strengthening their sense of cultural identity, while also explaining the significance and meanings of traditional Yup’ik masks,” Espinosa said.

Espinosa further added, “It was an absolute honor to host Mr. Oscar at his first (of many more) school workshops to come. I strongly encourage (all) schools to consider bringing Atsaq Art to their school soon. Simply inspiring.”

The younger ones finished individual flat wooden masks on a small cardboard decorated with feathers, craft pipe cleaners inserted into the cardboard, beads, tiny pom poms and confetti. While the older ones prepared theirs for the large ply boards with different painted backgrounds.

Oscar also shared the ancestral oral guidance and tradition on kindness, being respectful, respecting teachers, staff, and others; the importance of hard work, staying away from alcohol and drugs when they grow up, and loving one another.

For this workshop, Espinosa and Oscar bought art supplies from Lisa’s Party Depot and Swanson’s Hardware in Bethel. Oscar brought a small box of bark wood that he collects in the summer from the Kuskokwim River. The bark wood and other decorative material are also available from stores online. The art workshop in Goodnews Bay is easily repeated the next time around by teachers themselves.

A message from John Oscar, “I wish to express blessings to the children in their future. A big thanks to Gary Evan for having welcomed me to have supper in his home, and to Laura Bavilla for cooking those delicious meals of caribou and trout. A special thank you to Mr. Christian Espinosa and Sheila Evan for housing me. Quyana cakneq!”