In our human endeavors, we use masks for both social and expressive reasons. They are used for funeral or fertility rituals, to mold the behavior of group members through admonition or supplication, and to enhance group ceremonies that impact  intra-group relationships or those with the larger world. Historically, masks are used to commune with gods and goddesses, to heal the sick, change the weather, or portray characters in plays or reenactments of mythological events.  Today, masks are found at festive occasions such as birthdays and Carnival. As an artist, my interest in mask making began when my Spanish class was asked to make a mask representative of a Latin American country. That mask is included here, as well as, those it inspired. In addition to culturally relevant masks, there are masks reflective of popular genres, historical references, or imaginative characters. All are created using a paper mache base form, painted with acrylics, and enhanced with a variety of commonly available materials and found objects.  

In the early days of the new milllenium, the spirit of Australia came to me in a visitation. On the surface it seemed like a dream, but underneath someone from the Dreamland Down Under sent me a message, that I was indigenous in a previous life. In a culture where men's and women's roles are distinct, I was a 12 year old boy, and the Spirit showed me participating in my coming of age ceremony. With the other hunters from my tribe, we ran through tall grass, beating drums and shouting, chasing an animal with the intention of killing it to feed our families. With the animal cornered, those gathered shouted gratitude to the animal spirit and it was finished. Since I received this message I developed an interest in the Dreaming, where the guiding spirits hold dominion over their earthly counterparts. The pieces in this project reflect my on-going interest and felt connection to the land and the Dreamings.