AH Portals to a Spiritual Realm: The Role of Objects in Indigenous Ritual and Myth with Richard Wehrs

AH Portals to a Spiritual Realm: The Role of Objects in Indigenous Ritual and Myth with Richard Wehrs

Tuesday, 3 sessions
Feb. 17, 24, Mar. 3
6:30 AM-8:30 PM  

This three-session class explores the remarkably similar conclusions reached by vastly different cultures in their interpretation of the Common Human Experience, or CHE. Fertility, birth, maturation, becoming an adult, parenthood, sickness, death, etc., are experienced by every person of every culture in every time – and the parallels among the indigenous belief systems of disparate cultures can be amazing.

The class looks at these commonalities as evidenced by art objects used in recalling and, in many cases, attempting to influence the spiritual world that virtually every evolving belief system includes as they grapple with the CHE. Each presentation includes images of many indigenous art objects from around the world, providing an experience that is as visually stimulating as it is thought-provoking.

The instructor, Richard Wehrs, is an Illinois sculptor using clay. He has an MFA from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, where he minored in art history courses exclusively focused on indigenous cultures. In addition, he has a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.