Join us in the Matthews Gallery on Tuesday, January 17 at 10 am for Gods Eye Weaving, where you will be guided through the process of creating a colorful ornament using simple weaving techniques.

You may have encountered God’s Eye ornaments as a school project but the activity has a history that is hundreds of years old.

God’s Eye ornaments first originated among the Huichol, the indigenous peoples of what is now western Mexico. They believed that the spiritual world could be accessed through crafting objects. The Huichol made large ceremonial shields with colored yarn and sticks as protection against the uncertainties of the future, so that a god could keep a watchful eye over the craftsman.

Black yarn or a mirrored disk in the center of the God’s Eye is intended to help the god see better and where the stick foundation crosses, an opening was left so that shamans and gods could travel easily between the spirit world and earth. The four points of the “eye” are believed to represent the four earthly elements (fire, water, earth and air).

This workshop is free to attend, however, space is limited to 10 participants. Registration is required. Contact the Matthews Community Engagement Manager at (605)717-6967 or email engage@matthewsopera.com to reserve your spot.

About the NEA Big Read

The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read, a partnership with Arts Midwest, broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. Since 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts has funded more than 1,700 NEA Big Read programs, providing more than $24 million to organizations nationwide. In addition, NEA Big Read activities have reached every Congressional district in the country. Over the past 16 years, grantees have leveraged more than $56 million in local funding to support their NEA Big Read programs. More than 5.9 million Americans have attended an NEA Big Read event, over 97,000 volunteers have participated at the local level, and over 40,000 community organizations have partnered to make NEA Big Read activities possible.

Visit arts.gov/neabigread for more information about the NEA Big Read. Organizations interested in applying for an NEA Big Read grant in the future should visit Arts Midwest’s website for more information.

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
El proyecto NEA Big Read es una iniciativa del National Endowment for the Arts (el Fondo Nacional para las Artes de Estados Unidos) en cooperación con Arts Midwest