I am a mask maker, each of my masks is one of a kind, and each is wearable by human beings. Masks, by their very nature, must be wearable in order to be. masks -- human activity is implicit. Most often the theme of my masks will be one of two categories: incidents or concerns from my own life or the lives of others; and those I do for fun, but which may have a serious side. Frequently this second category will be related to my love of science fiction. Since I also enjoy writing, I usually write about each mask; and sometimes I will make a mask about something I have first written. I prefer to concentrate on what can be revealed or created, rather than what might be concealed.
In 1987, in Santa Cruz, California, I was invited to be in a mask show that was part of a large project called "Remarkable Women in Santa Cruz History." Historians gave public talks about women in local history, and nine artists made several masks each about the lives of the women. These made up a show that hung in the Santa Cruz Historical Society Museum. Additionally, each artist wrote a performance piece based on one of their masks, and we gave performances. This project was the beginning of my mask making, and I knew right away that I would always make masks.
I had only occasionally made masks before that project, as incidental parts of costumes. Since I didn't know how to make masks in any traditional way, I used the materials I did know: cloth and found objects. This worked so well for me that I have continued to use it, gradually learning about and adding many kinds of paints, plastics, metals, adhesives, and so on along the way.
I have great curiosity and thirst for information about a lot of subjects. I think I knew how important mask-making would be to me right from the beginning, because I purposely avoided studying other people's masks, as much as possible, for several years. Of course, we cannot avoid the influences of the past and our own and others' cultures to which we are exposed; but I wanted to first find out what kinds of masks were in me. It is only in the last two years that I have begun to intentionally "study" masks. I feel confident that my own voice is established, and I will be able to use what I learn honestly.
The appeal of masks to me is very much linked to the fact that human activity is implicit in their existence. When a mask is put on, it becomes a tool for transformation: it can change the wearer, or it can reveal and release an aspect of the wearer's true identity.
I get to use every material imaginable. I can start with an idea or message and build the piece to fit. Or, I can just start building, letting the face and character emerge from the particular materials. Magically, it often turns out that the medium has its own message, waiting to get out. Even when I am making a piece that is just for fun (such as the science fiction related pieces) it will usually turn out to have a serious side, too. Sometimes I don't find out what a piece is really about until after it has been finished, titled, and shown.