Viewfinder: L'Anse Creuse Potters Celebrate Black History Month

In recognition of Black History Month, L'Anse Creuse High School art students are hard at work crafting ceramic face jugs in the style attributed to black artisan slaves during the first half of the 19th century.

The purpose and meaning of these stoneware jugs, now known as face vessels, is not entirely known, but LCHS art teacher Maribeth Sonsara said historians believe the vessels may have had religious or burial significance, as they are often found along the routes of the Underground Railroad and on grave sites.

LCHS pottery students were given some requirements to guide their project, but were free to use the extent of their imaginations to model the "faces" on their jugs.