Born and raised in San Francisco, Mr. Jacques started making and repairing musical string and percussion instruments while in his 30s and began sculpting masks about five years later. Native masks have always moved him. His inspiration comes from the tribal people of the world, as well as nature’s forces: oceans, rivers, clouds, sunsets and wildlife, especially the wolf, buffalo and hawk.

Thoughts…

Before painting this mask design, I performed a ceremony and asked guidance from the Great Spirit. This mask is representative of the spirituality of various tribal people. The face was inspired by the Hopi tribe (the peaceful people); the right side, by the Australian Aboriginals, looking through the eye and brain of the sacred crocodile; the forehead represents the horns of
the buffalo held sacred by the Plains Indians; and the two feathers at the top and left eye are the colors of the four directions as seen by Black Elk. They are also colors of the four tribes of the earth who will some day see through the same eye. Tribal people say "Mitakuye Oyasin" -- we are all related.