EATHER
MASKS
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EATHER
MASKS
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Masks can tell us more about the wearer than the actual face.
The best known masks are the Italian masks worn during the carnival of
Venice. Masquerading used to be a common practice among Venetians until
the 18th century. While being forbidden by Napoleon, today the city is
again ruled by the masks during the carnival season.
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Venice
Masks, Photo
provided by Daniela Sukreski
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Ceremony
Mask
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Feather Mask collection provided by Mardi Gras |
What better material to use for a mask than feathers? Feathers resemble human hair and can be interwoven like strands. A large number of mask forms and arrangements have been invented over time. Some of them are very complicated in nature while others are simple cardboard cuttings endeavored with feathers. Even an old featherduster can be turned into a stunning mask by skilled hands. |
Feather Mask provided by The Hana Coast Gallery, Mask by Beth McCormick |
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| Fantasy Mask provided by Mardi Gras |
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White Feather Mask provided by Mardi Gras |
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Maybe
the most famous full-body feather mask has been invented by Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart. His character called "Papageno" in the opera "The
Magical Flute" wears a brightly colored feather costume in most productions.
The reason for this is that Papageno is a fantasy creature who is catching
birds for a livelihood. In the end he even gets the girl ("Papagena")
- who is of course also clothed in feathers.
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Papageno,
Picture from Midnight Dreaming
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Beth McCormick |
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The
following two feather masks have been provided by the feather artist Beth
McCormick. She is an expectional artist who turns simple feathers into
magical works of art.
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Some
of Beth´s masks and other feather objects can be purchased. Visit
her site for more information on her work: "http://www.skylarkmedia.com/onionhouse/gallery/gallery.html"
Here is what she has to say about her motivation to work with
feathers:
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"Twenty
years ago, early in my fascination with feathers, I came across a small
black and white photograph of a young Brazilian Indian wearing a white
feather headdress. Backlit, the feathers glowed as if illuminated from
within. It dawned on me that this young man was unmistakably wearing a
halo. Suddenly, I understood that tribal featherworkers were expressing
the same inner vision as in mideval depictions of Christ or Buddha. The
significance of a feather headdress was to make the realm of the invisible
apparent to all." - Beth McCormick
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Goddess of Gold "This is one aspect of the eternal feminine, serene and powerful, sensuous and ethereal." Many percious kinds of pearls have been used. Many rare kinds of feathers have been colleted for this mask - like various peacock feathers java green peacock, Indian black-shouldered peacock as well as golden pheasant feathers. Elaborate designs of luscious color, executed in the shimmering palette of bird feathers are the hallmark of Beth¹s work. |
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Festiva "This is the face of celebration, of carnival, of making a joyful noise, to enliven the spirit and gladden the heart." Fairy bluebird as well as many kinds of macaw feathers have been used in the construction of this mask. Also precious antique European seed beads can be found on Festiva. Beth´s work is based on old artistic traditions that stretch back to the ancient traditions of Hawai¹i, but still moves into new directions. |
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Touch
the feather to get back to the top
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