{"id":7360,"date":"2021-06-11T10:59:08","date_gmt":"2021-06-11T14:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lammuseum.wfu.edu\/?p=7360"},"modified":"2024-06-21T09:50:46","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T13:50:46","slug":"suriname-make-a-mosquito-brush","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lammuseum.wfu.edu\/2021\/06\/suriname-make-a-mosquito-brush\/","title":{"rendered":"Suriname: Make a Mosquito Brush"},"content":{"rendered":"

Where is Suriname?<\/h3>\n

\"suriname
\nSuriname, located on the northeastern Atlantic coast, is one of the smallest countries in South America. It was formerly known as Dutch Guiana and was a plantation colony of\u00a0the Netherlands. On November 25, 1975, Suriname gained its independence and became a sovereign state.\u00a0 With approximately 575,990 people, Suriname has one of the most ethnically\u00a0diverse populations\u00a0in the region.<\/p>\n

Who are the Arawak?<\/h3>\n

The\u00a0Arawak\u00a0are a group of\u00a0indigenous peoples\u00a0of South America and the\u00a0Caribbean. They settled the coastal areas of what is now Guyana,\u00a0Suriname,\u00a0Grenada,\u00a0Jamaica, and parts of the islands of\u00a0Trinidad and Tobago.<\/p>\n

The term Arawak is very confusing because at various times it has been used to refer to the\u00a0Lokono\u00a0of South America and the\u00a0Taino in the\u00a0Caribbean. Early Spanish explorers used the terms\u00a0Arawak\u00a0and\u00a0Caribs to distinguish the peoples of the Caribbean. They called indigenous groups they considered hostile Caribs. Groups they considered friendly were called Arawak.<\/p>\n

By 1871, the terms Island Arawak and mainland Arawak were used to differentiate the people of the Caribbean from those of South America. Later these terms were shortened to Arawak, creating confusion between the island and mainland groups.<\/p>\n

Today, Arawak refers mostly to the Lokono people of South America and Taino refers to the descendants of the indigenous people of the Caribbean. What connected the people is that all these groups spoke related\u00a0Arawakan languages.<\/p>\n

What is a Mosquito Brush?<\/h3>\n

The Arawak have always lived in a tropical climate with many insects. A mosquito brush was and continues to be a useful item. They are made from grasses, palm leaves, and other natural materials. They are used to fan a person but also keep mosquitos, flies, and other bugs away.<\/p>\n

\"mosquito

This Arawak mosquito brush is from the Lam Museum collection.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Chinese

This figure from the Lam Museum collection shows one of the Chinese 8 immortals holding a fly whisk.<\/p><\/div>\n

In other countries, mosquito brushes are referred to as a fly whisks. Again, its main purpose is to fan flies and bugs away, but it can represent other things. For example, in\u00a0Polynesian\u00a0cultures a fly whisk is a ceremonial mark of authority. A fly whisk made with the tail hairs of a\u00a0white elephant is part of the\u00a0royal regalia of Thailand. In\u00a0Indonesian art, a fly whisk is one of the items associated with Hindu and Buddhist deities. It is also used as an accessory in folk performances. A fly whisk is one of the traditional hierarchical symbols used by Buddhist monks in China and Japan. It represents the symbolic “sweeping” away of ignorance and mental afflictions. Also, many\u00a0Chinese martial arts use fly whisks as part of their religious philosophies. In many African countries, a fly whisk is part of the traditional regalia of chiefs, monarchs, and royal families. It is used as a symbol of power, respect, and authority.<\/p>\n

\"Baule

The Lam Museum collection also includes this Baule fly whisk from the Ivory Coast, which is a symbol of power with a handle covered in gold leaf.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fly whisks can be made from a variety of materials like bone, ivory, wood, silver, and gold for the handles. The brush can be made from grasses, roots, leaves, and different types of animal hair. They can be very elaborate or very simple.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s make a Mosquito brush!<\/h3>\n

Remember mosquito brushes or fly whisks are made from various materials and each one is unique. So be CREATIVE when you make your own!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you’ll need:<\/strong>
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Paper
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Craft stick, dowel, or paint stirrer
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Scissors
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Glue
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Pencil
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Ruler
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Markers, crayons, or colored pencils<\/p>\n

Optional for decorating:<\/strong>
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Craft paints
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Paintbrushes
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Water container
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Paper towels
\n\u2022 <\/strong>Seashells, jewels, buttons, beads<\/p>\n