In preparation for Autumn and Samhain, the season of ancestors and mystery, this hands-on exploration of the nature of bark–and your own wild nature–is the perfect opportunity to create an alternate visage for yourself. Bark is a material of incredible richness, its textures, forms and functions shaped by the trees it protects. Beyond its practical uses, bark has a deeper, more mysterious potential: transformational masks. For centuries, humans have metamorphosed through masks, exploring alter selves and new ways of seeing the world.
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll do just that: explore the nature of bark and your own creative instincts by crafting a unique mask from tulip poplar bark.

What You’ll Learn & Create:
* How bark behaves from tree to transformation—its natural properties, preparation, and preservation.
*The process of selecting and shaping bark into a mask, designing a form that speaks to you.
*Basic low-relief carving techniques using simple hand tools (experience is helpful but not required).
*How to process your own bark into mask blanks for future creations.

Each participant will leave with a handmade mask and the skills to continue crafting with bark. But more than that, this workshop offers a chance to connect—both with the living trees that provide this material and with the internal landscapes we explore when we create and embody an alternate version of ourselves.
Whether you’re a seasoned carver or a curious beginner, this class invites you to step into the world of bark mask making—an art both ancient and newly rediscovered. Join beloved crafter and inspiring instructor, Josh Barnwell, in shaping something truly unique.