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Comment
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Kerrie
Registered User
(9/2/01 5:45:28 pm)
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Masks and Marriage
Well, I suppose since I briefly mentioned it to Heidi in an email I should come out and say it: I recently became engaged during my summer camping trip and a long hike to the top of Mount Avalon in NH. Terribly romantic!
Since my family has me going bonkers with their plotting... er, I mean planning ideas... I have recently thought of one I may employ: masks. I figure that masks are a compromise I may be able to get people to make (I love fairies and fairy tales and renaissance/medieval themes, you get the picture). I fell in love with the traditional leather mask making mentioned in Midori's book THE INNAMORATI, as well as the ideas of little mask pins in an essay in Jane's book TOUCH MAGIC titled "The Mask on the Lapel." Could anyone give more background on masks, mask pins, and their place in literature, folklore, history, etc.? Thanks!
Dandelion wishes,
Kerrie
Edited by: Kerrie at: 9/2/01 7:21:45 pm
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Kate
Unregistered User
(9/2/01 5:53:39 pm)
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Congratulations
That's nice for you! Don't let anyone else's ideas about the event muddle your thoughts. (Speaking as one who eloped in a dark tiny bar . . . I have little credibility.)
One of my students showed me a gorgeous art book of masks (called, I think, MASKS) last semester. I'll get the exact title for you. She had the entire class make these intricate Origami masks as part of her project (she's a sculptor and made some amazing stuff herself). It was a great class meeting, and I bet would be even finer at a joyous event. Mine came out horribly, of course. I'll get you her bibliographic info as soon as I can, Tuesday, perhaps, when our classes start again, assuming I can track her down!
Congratulations on the engagement, again . . . so much good news of various kinds showing up on the board, of late!
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Kerrie
Registered User
(9/2/01 6:26:10 pm)
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Re: Congratulations
Thanks! That would be great! I've been looking for books, but there's hundreds to go through online, and not too many at the stores. Amazingly enough, stamping magazines have been the easiest to find ideas in! I think Sommerset Studio magazine has an article on Commedia Dell’Arte and Tuscany this month, and they had a back issue on Mardi Gras masks, but they don't usually have much in-depth info.
Dandelion wishes,
Kerrie
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tlchang37
Registered User
(9/2/01 7:22:12 pm)
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Re: Congratulations
Congrats Kerrie,
I love your mask idea! Masks have been a side-line obsession of mine this last year or so. As I've been painting greenman/nature people I was itching to get more 3 dimensional with it all and have now done dozens of leafy and foresty masks. I did a bunch of research initially because what I REALLY want to create is bigger and more complex than I know how to do. I'll give you the short list of what I ended up purchasing, but I'd love to hear of any other recommendations out there.
The stand-by mask making "bible" from what I can tell is:
"The Prop Builder's Mask-Making Handbook" by Thurston James, Betterway Books, copyright 1990. It is a black and white treatment of mask making - primarily for stage. Techniques from casting to leather. It is good and rather high-end, and too complex for the kid's classes I teach.
I got a watered down version that has some fairly sophisticated masks (as well as easy ones) that is more do-able called: "Super Masks & Fun Face Painting" by Teddy Cameron Long, Sterling Publishing Co. copyright 1997. This is geared at kids, but has alot of paper and papier mache masks.
My favorite mask maker that I've found on the web is Cheryl Mandus (www.angel-mask.com) who does beautiful, custom leather masks (kindof a la the ballroom scene in "Labyrinth")
For my own work, I've done a few larger papier mache creations, but have been the most pleased with smaller, embellished half masks. Martha Stewart (of all people :-) had a pretty good article on this kind of mask in her Oct 1997 magazine. They are simpler, but quite striking in their uniform materials, ranging from leaves to dried flowers, feathers or silk petals, beautiful ribbon and embellishments. Mine are more complex, but based on the same principles.
I have both of the Somerset Studio issues you mentioned, and neither is very impressive in example or instruction.
And if paper interests you, I picked up the most amazing little origami book at a used book store - I don't know if it's find-able in more mainstream venues - that has incredible, intricate folded paper masks: "Origami" by Toyoaki Kawai - translated by Thomas I. Elliott. Published by Hoikusha Publishing Co. Copyright 1978
Best of luck! I'll look forward to hearing how this goes for you!
Tara
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janeyolen
Unregistered User
(9/2/01 10:32:59 pm)
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Masks
Sounds bizarrely wonderful. I have no other comments nor can I make masks.But you ncan buy masks in Venice, Italy and New Orleans all year around.
Jane
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Terri
Registered User
(9/2/01 11:37:38 pm)
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Re: Masks
This is serendipitious, since I need to write a short article on masks in a few months time. So any good info or book recommendations on the folklore of masks would be appreciated. I've read Jane's terrific "mask on the lapel" essay, but I'm not yet sure where to go from there....
Congratulations, Kerrie!
Edited by: Terri at: 9/2/01 11:38:21 pm
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Kerrie
Registered User
(9/3/01 6:15:27 am)
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To make, to buy, to write...
Thanks for all of the suggestions so far! I have seen Cheryl's site and love it! There are a few others too, though quite out of price range... though I suppose if I tell people not to buy housewares stuff- which we're pretty all set with- they could buy the mask of their choosing, probably for less!
I was even thinking about (if we go along these lines) the favours being little mask pins. Jane, where did you find the information for that topic? The opening paragraph caught me and I constantly go back to it! With most of my family in jewelry, I find the uses of jewelry for other than decoration simply fascinating!
Dandelion wishes,
Kerrie
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Heidi
Anne Heiner
ezOP
(9/3/01 9:26:28 am)
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Re: To make, to buy, to write...
Kerrie,
Congratulations! May the wedding planning go as smoothly as possible............
My most recent exposure to masks was at the SCBWI national conference here. They held a masked ball one night and had mask making materials available in two rooms for everyone to casually make their own masks during the conference. It appeared to be a success although I didn't get to attend the ball. I observed a lot of masks floating around, mostly feathered and sequined ones. I believe they had the choice to put them on elastic or on sticks to hold in front of the face.
The one thing I would have done differently was to put up more examples and pictures on the workshop walls to inspire the less visually creative who feared working in a vacuum of ideas.
Heidi
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Midori
Unregistered User
(9/4/01 3:13:43 am)
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masks
My apologies to everyone for being so absent of late! (especially when such a favorite subject appears!) I've begun teaching and am totally gobsmacked by how much attention it takes. I will try to keep up with my posts...
I also love the Thurston book and have used it quite a bit. It is a heavy duty thing but it has a fabulous section on the Satori family in Padova, Italy which make the commedia masks in the traditional fashion. My favorite mask shop in Venice is Mondonovo (rio canal, Ponte del Pugni, 3063 Dorsoduro, Venezia) they may have a site on the web now. They are sublime...walking into that shop (which is tiny and packed to the rafters with masks of all description!) I never want to leave.
I have constructed masks with heavy paper, cut (cut the paper almost like inverted darts to give the forehead and cheeks shape)and stapled. One can make a fairly intersting mask very quickly that way (I even did one that is like the Japanese female demon mask--closed the mask looks like a pretty woman smiling, pull a tab and her eyebrows go up and her fangs come down!). Jewellery is very nice...but I also once made a series of small masks for musicians in a play that attached with a little strap (you could make it ribbons) to the upper arm. The masks were small and very decorative, each face a little different. The actors on stage were masked, but the muscians couldn't be--the upper arm mask suggested they were part of the stage without interferring with their playing.
if you do face masks, the half masks are best...only because people can drink, drink and talk at the same time.
I just hope what ever you do that you have a great photographer! It's going to be beautiful.
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Jeanne
Unregistered User
(9/4/01 8:01:28 am)
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masks
Congratulations on your engagement, Kerrie If you are interested in inexpensive half masks for decorating or for guests who won't make their own, I used to sell masks from Oriental Trading at 800 875-8480. Their website is at www.oriental.com However, they had many more masks in their catalog than those on their website. The assortment with the cat mask and peacock feather trimmed ones is representative. They are made in China and are remarkably cheap and remarkably good looking. Of course, these are Mardi Gras style, not classic Italian. They also had sequined covered ones. The super cheap ones shown on their site are usually not wearable...the eyeholes are crooked and too close...but would work for decorating. Jeanne
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janeyolen
Unregistered User
(9/4/01 10:26:11 am)
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Where?
You know, I wrote the original essay/speech on which that chapter "Mask on the Lapel" is based about twenty years ago. I have NO idea where I got that information. But I didn't make it up.
Jane
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Kerrie
Registered User
(9/4/01 12:36:18 pm)
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Martha, Masks, and memories...
Tara: I actually saw that article you spoke of- I made my own Halloween mask that year out of leaves to go with my brown skirt and dance top- people kept asking if I was Gaia or Xena or a fairy or everything but what I was- I think I was just trying to be a gypsy.
Jane: If I do give out little mask pins, may I use that intro paragraph with them? Would I need to go through Permissions Dept. at the publisher?
Thanks for all of the mask suggestions! My library is growing both in piles and websites!
Does anyone know of any fairy tales or folk tales that have to do with masks? Or maybe about a character not being him/herself or maybe truly being themselves? I can think of the story of a princess who sits inside the belly of a stove and tells her story because she doesn't believe anyone is listening, but the king hears it and returns her to her true station. Other thoughts?
Dandelion wishes,
Kerrie
Edited by: Kerrie at: 9/4/01 12:41:19 pm
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janeyolen
Unregistered User
(9/4/01 1:34:58 pm)
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Wedding Masks
Kerrie--if you wanted to quote that FOR A WEDDING, I'd be a grinch indeed if I said you had to get official permission. That's a fairly limited use! <G> But I'd appreciate it if you gave a proper citation and copyright notice. Just in case, say, one of your guests wanted to make a movie based on it.
<BIG G!>
Jane
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La
Reine Noire
Registered User
(9/6/01 7:13:17 pm)
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Masks et al
Congrats on getting engaged and I absolutely love the idea of a masquerade wedding! Just out of curiosity, are you planning on going for the "Ever After" look - that gown was utterly stunning!
But anyway, I had a website address for a mask shop in Venice where I bought a lovely one on my trip there last summer, but I seem to have misplaced it. I'll be heading back to school next week, so I'll look for it among all my other junk and post it here if I find it.
My only real experience with masks involves the Carnival in Venice. I didn't actually attend it (sadly), but I've been fascinated ever since I read a rather sappy romance novel with a Carnival theme and the lead character as a mask-maker. Mask pins were all over the place as tourist items and such.
And I had to make one a few years ago for a French project in high school. All it really took was going to JoAnn Fabrics, buying a plain white one, and glueing little glass beads all over it. Took some time, true, but the end result was well worth it.
~Kavita
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Kerrie
Registered User
(9/7/01 6:38:20 am)
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Re: Wedding Masks
Jane: Of course I would give you a proper citation! And I'll see
what I can do about inviting my neighbor who works with Michael
Corrente (Providence, American Buffalo).
Kavita: Actually, now that you mention it, the dress I was thinking
about wearing (one Jansen bought me a year ago while on vacation)
does look similar to Danielle's in Ever After- except mine's more
ivory than silvery as hers was.
I'm thinking I may have to plan a trip to Venice soon...
Dandelion wishes,
Kerrie
Edited by: Kerrie at: 9/10/01 1:38:01 pm
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