Unpopular and hard to get?

My good friend Nicky has taken dream catchers to the next level........

https://www.facebook.com/DreamingCa...her-artist-for-the-canada-d/1302415206511801/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-dreamcatcher-art-1.4154256


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Legend of the Dream Catcher
You can find many stories of the legend of the dream catcher. The story changes among the many nations that use dream catchers. The following story is an excerpt from the book Dream Catchers: Legend, Lore, and Artifacts by Cath Olberholtzer (available in the Mount Royal University Library and Calgary Public Library).

“The legend of the dream catcher began long ago, when the child of a Woodland chief fell
ill. Unsettled by fever, the child was plagued with bad dreams and unable to sleep. In an
attempt to heal him, the tribe’s Medicine Woman created a device that would “catch”
these bad dreams. Forming a circle with a slender willow branch, she filled the center
with sinew, using a pattern borrowed from our brother the Spider, who weaves a web. This
dream catcher was then hung over the bed of the child. Soon the fever broke, and the
child slept peacefully.

It is said that at night, when dreams visit, they are caught in the dream catcher’s web,
and only the good dreams are able to find their way to the dreamer, filtering down through
the feather. When the warmth of the morning sun arrives, it burns away the bad dreams
that have been caught. The good dreams, now knowing the path, visit again on other
nights.” (Oberholtzer, 2012, p. 9).
Origins
Throughout history, many nations have claimed to be the original creators of the dream catcher. But, a consensus was eventually made, naming the Ojibwa as the originators (Oberholtzer, 2012). The Ojibwa are part of the Algonquin language family, which has many language divisions and a widespread geographic region. In the mid-1800's, explorers began documenting their observation of small, netted charms used by the Ojibwa to protect infants from evil spirits and illness. There is also evidence that the Cree and Naskapi also used netted charms for protection (Oberholtzer, 2012).


https://www.easterndoor.com/2017/01/30/workshop-aims-to-catch-dreams-across-the-country/

 

I have made 3 dimensional ones with two and three willow hoops, in the round. But only on commission and never for children. The weave has complicated swirls if you weave it right. Very pretty, but not traditional.

 

What an excellent answer. They are undervalued even over here sometimes. I just saw a beautiful piece, that to my untrained eyes, looked authentic sell for $3. I considered buying it myself, it was a vase but with two openings. It was half painted (the other half was natural reddish) black with pinpoint stars and rocks on it. It was part of a lot that had belt buckles and southwest beer stiens.

 

That huge dreamcatcher is really incredible. And an amazing project too, considering your friend feared be beaten for similar ideas in his youth. I suppose it goes to show that some artists have a kind of irrepressible talent (and I’m really glad it ended up with the Confederation Centre). Next time I see a dreamcatcher somewhere propitious I will now examine it... particularly if the hoop looks good, I might fork out!

 

They sound beautiful- I’m always impressed by people who manage that sort of delicate work

 

Oh I like to think I would have jumped on that! But it’s tricky, in the end you have to go with your gut. Got to hope beautiful things find their way to people who appreciate them..