Jaw Half-Mask in clay inspired by sensory cortex

Here is a photo of a new type of mask that I am experimenting with. I have seen this kind of mask made by a friend and fellow mask maker but this is my first attempt. The big lips were inspired by the diagrams of the sensory cortex that show the importance of the mouth and hands in relation to the the rest of the body in brain processing.

I am interested to see how expressive this mask will be once paper-mached given that the performer will have full use of the eyes and brow. I like it and it was a fun mask to sculpt. Maybe I will experiment with a few more of these "jaw" masks in the near future.

This mask is still a work in progress. Originally, I had intended to sculpt this character as a full-face mask, but one I finished the upper lip, I knew I could go no lower. I tend not to make many half-masks but I am beginning to experiment with them. They can be quite enjoyable to sculpt and equally as enjoyable to perform.

New gallery postings along with a puppet blast from the past

Noodles is here to announce five new masks officially posted to the gallery. Even more will be posted soon.

This photo of Noodles was taken today along with mask photos for the gallery. He was a puppet I designed and built a little over a year ago for a collaborative performance piece. He was my co-host on a crazy psychedelic cooking show gone wrong. I figured since I had everything set up, I might as well get a good picture of a puppet. As mentioned before, I have not been doing much with puppets lately. Of course, it was puppets that led me to masks. It seems often times that "masks and puppets" are mentioned together. They have much in common in performance and in creation.

Puppets have been on my mind lately though as I am participating as part of a design team for an upcoming performance in Milwaukee come January. I'm sure I will have more to share later this month, but for now, I will let you know that there will be some overhead projected puppet madness in this show. Stay tuned for more info...

Neoprene Neutral Mask in the works

Here is a sneak peak at another mask I am working on; this one cast in neoprene rubber...



It still needs finishing touches with a rotary tool and also paint and straps. But soon it will be a finished mask and my third attempt at creating a neutral mask.

Long nose and long chin mask. Man or old woman?

I will write more about this guy (or it an old woman?) soon...



I should also have the gallery updated soon so that this mask along with the others in the background have proper display. One of those masks in the background is neoprene, the rest are paper mache.