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In the summer of 2000, 13 aboriginal hand drums were made from scratch by the women of the North End Women's Centre in Winnipeg. We decided to call them "Soul Medicine Drums," because of the emotional healing which flows from drumming. These drums belong to the centre and are lent out to drumming circles in schools and women's group who do not have their own drums. The North End Centre sponsors two hour evening drumming circles at the full moon and the new moon. They are restricted to women and children. Initially, a few of the women occasionally brought their husbands along, but we soon decided that many of us could not relax in the presence of men, especially those of us who had suffered abuse at the hand of men, some as far back as in early childhood.The first picture shows all 13 drums inside the North End Women's Centre. I modified the photo by erasing all surrounding furniture, feet, and other percussion instruments and by painting in more carpet.
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Every drum is identified by a color. Let me introduce the Red Drum to you. It was the first drum which Traute Klein's ever made. It expressed deep feelings in her soul, and she had a hard time parting with it. The aboriginal people have a rule which Traute learned as she gave away that drum. The first artistic creation of a certain kind should be given away. The second one can be kept, and any others can be sold. While the hide was soaking in water, it was wrapped in a red cloth which gave off color. That created a design which Traute saw in the drum as she was making it. She used fabric markers to draw that design on the drum after it was dry. Most people decorate their drums with acrylic paint, but Traute did not want the deer hide ruined with the plastic coating of the acrylic paint which would eventually cause it to crack. The fabric markers have retained their color for 4 years, and when they fade, the design can easily be redrawn.
The Red Drum is the most photogenic and has been featured in several TV newscasts. Traute uses it when she gives seminars on how to adopt aboriginal healing methods to western culture and to different religious beliefs. This drum does not show traditional aboriginal designs as most aboriginal hand drums do. The design is western, or maybe it can be called universal. It shows the harmony of Nature. Sky, earth, and water all unite to bring healing to the world through the life-giving power of the light of the rising sun. The photo was taken with the drum lying on the parking lot of the North End Women's Centre. Originally, Traute's toes were in the photo. :-)
In the summer of 2004, we are recorded a CD with our drumming songs. It is entitled "Soul Medicine." A songbook with the lyrics accompanies the CD. The Red Drum graces the CD cover, because it best signifies the essence of Soul Medicine and the photo of the other drums are shown on the back. The songbook is decorated with black and white drawings by the women and children who attend the drumming circles.
On July 10, the drumming songs were taped in the Sunshine Records studio by the women and children who were able to attend that day. The following day, two of the songs were retaped, and this snapshot was taken. Unfortunately no children were present that day.
And here is a look at the original photo compared to its transformation in PhotoShop.
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Now you know why Adobe PhotoShop is so expensive.
