Making Masks

Northwest Valley Community CollegeART 161

Class Introduction:

Think about this prompt “If I were a mask from an ancient or exotic culture, what would I look like and what would my purpose be?”

Turn to a partner and share your thoughts

You can quickly sketch out your ideas if this helps you.

Class Agenda

Introduction – Done! View a Slideshow of Mask Examples

Evaluation of a Ceramic Mask Instructor will Demonstrate making a

Mask Students will practice mask making Students can work on previous

projects Closing Cleanup

To be Noted…

Not all of the masks presented here are made of clay. They are meant to be examples of forms and features you can give to your clay mask.

DO NOT COPY these masks exactly! Take inspiration from them.

Clay Mask found in the Middle East

“This mask was found in a tomb and was designed to frighten away evil spirits ” (British Museum, 2010).

Nō Theater Mask of a Young Woman

“Nō theatre masks are the opportunity for very subtle expression in Japanese sculpture. The wooden masks are carved and then painted” (British Museum, 2010).

Painted wooden mask in the form of a wolf

“Such clan headdresses are worn in ceremonial dances at 'potlatches' or feasts” (British Museum, 2010).

Painted wooden mask of a demon

“This mask represents one of the eighteen disease demons. Demon masks are still used in healing rituals in Sri Lanka, particularly on the south of the island” (British Museum, 2010).

Stone mask

“The impassive features of this large stone funerary mask were sculpted in a greenish stone that was carefully selected for its visual qualities and symbolic value” (British Museum, 2010).

Tragic theatre mask made of terracotta

“This terracotta mask represents a female character from ancient tragedy. The smooth face and straight nose are in stark contrast to comic masks, which were often grotesquely distorted” (British Museum, 2010).

Death mask of George Bernard Shaw

“Death and life masks are both made in the same way. The head and facial hair are oiled and a thin layer of plaster is applied to the face in several layers. Threads are set into this and when the plaster has set the mask is removed in several pieces by pulling the threads. The pieces are then put back together to form a mould from which a mask can be made.” (British Museum, 2010).

Egyptian mummy masks

“An important part of the mummy was a helmet-like mask, which was placed over the head of the linen-wrapped body. Its youthful features were not intended as a likeness of the deceased, but projected an idealized image for their existence in the afterlife” (British Museum, 2010).

Ivory Mask From Benin, NigeriaEdo peoples, probably 16th century AD

“This type of mask was worn by the Oba, probably around his neck, during a religious ceremony. The top of the pendant is decorated with heads representing the Portuguese, symbolizing Benin's alliance with and control over Europeans.” (British Museum, 2010).

Mask of a shishi Japan, Edo period, 19th century AD

“The shishi (leonine creature) mask was used in the theatre and in street festivals, sometimes carried by a single person and sometimes by a team wearing a textile body” (British Museum, 2010).

Contemporary Ceramic Masks

Masks by Bill Abright

 (Abright, 2010). http://www.billabright.com/pages/ceramics/m-imagine.html

Masks by Peggy Bjerkan

(Bjerkan, 2009). http://www.maskwoman.com/

Masks by Richard Lamartine

(Lamartine, 2010). http://www.richardlamartine.com/ceramic4.htm

Mask Examples from Clip Art

Mask Evaluation Using your Ceramic Evaluation Form, evaluate

this mask by Peggy Bjerkan.

Remember to think about the aesthetic as well as the workmanship that went into the piece.

(Bjerkan, 2009). http://www.maskwoman.com/

Mask Demonstration & PracticeAssessment: Create your own mask!

Closing Turn to a partner and show him or her

your current mask project. Then tell your partner what you would create if you were to create a companion mask to go along with the one you are working on now (or have finished). Consider…

How would you keep the same theme for the two masks, yet make them different?

What new textures or designs would you introduce?

How would the construction process of the second mask go differently?

Clean Up!

Put away any unfinished projects and place finished ones on the appropriate Firing Shelves

Put any extra clay in the Clay Recycling Bin

Put away your supplies

Wipe off your work table

Resources

Abright, B. (2010). Bill Abright ceramics and drawings. Retrieved from http://www.billabright.com/pages/ceramics/m-perception.html

Bjerkan, P. (2009). Maskwoman.com. Retrieved from http://www.maskwoman.com/

Lamartine, R. (2010). Richard Lamartine ceramics gallery. Retrieved from http://www.richardlamartine.com/ceramic.htm

The British Museum. (2010). Changing face:Masks from the British Museum. Retrieved from

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/online_tours/museum_and_exhib ition/changing_face_masks/changing_face_masks.aspx