In the many paintings of coyote masks featured in The Coyote Makes the Sunset Better, Duane Slick marries Modernist abstraction with the traditions and beliefs of his Indigenous heritage. By choosing the coyote, a seminal figure in Native American folklore, Slick alludes to his own personal ties to the Meskwaki (Fox of Iowa) and Ho-Chunk (Nebraska) Nations while using the coyote as a metaphor for Indigenous survival and visibility throughout history. 

Inspired by Duane Slick’s process of choosing the coyote as the subject of his work, Aldrich educator and Ridgefield Poet Laureate Barb Jennes will lead a workshop in which participants will tap into their own personal histories to create mask objects and write poems about their meaning. All family members are welcome, and adults are especially encouraged to attend. All art-making and writing materials will be provided.

This is a 90-minute workshop held in-person in the Museum. Participants are required to wear a face mask for the duration.