Learn how to make plaster masks at the AC poetry retreat on Fri. Feb. 12, and Sat. aft., Feb. 13 at Silverpenny Farm. We will use plaster bandages to transform our faces and our art.
Some ideas: make masks to help things—to heal the environment, to make corn (or money) grow, to facilitate understanding between peoples.
Masks to stop things—the destruction of the rainforest, to stop Fido from chewing up the AC contracts and paperwork, to stop nightmares.
Masks of origin: totem animal and ancestor masks, futuristic masks, fantasy masks.
We’ll explore options, developing personal themes for the decoration of our masks.
HOMEWORK IDEAS: Make a collage mask using magazine photos, find mask shapes hidden in ordinary everyday objects—cars, bottles, etc.)
We will need lots of interesting goodies to adorn the masks.
Think of texture, shininess, color, symbolism, patterns, designs and shapes as you search for small objects that are personal, or that you love. Let your imagination run wild through the junk drawers and boxes—these places contain some fascinating bits of family history. Also bring things to share with the class—we’ll have a potlatch.
THINGS TO BRING:
- Thick greasy cold cream or Vaseline to protect your face from plaster (like getting a facial!).
- Something to hold the hair off the face—a hair band, a stretchy tube sock cut into bands, the neck of a tee shirt, hair clips, bobby pins, a cap, or a plastic bag. Beards need Saran Wrap.
- A soft wash cloth to wash those GREASY faces after the mask comes off. Tools: scissors, paint brushes, acrylic, or specialty paints, fabric paints, (we'll provide poster paints) glue, hot glue gun, glitter, etc.
- Ornaments: feathers, fur, interesting material, leather scraps, interesting (homemade?) paper, pretend money, cardboard, shiny foils and decorative papers, shells, small pebbles, bottle caps, buttons, sequins, beads, dried flowers & weeds, Spanish moss, raffia, tinsel, lace, ribbon, yarn, pipe cleaners, bells, bones, pine cones, acorns, bits of costume jewelry, small pieces of toys, dead watches, keys. . If you have felt, bring it to line the inside of the mask. And some elastic to tie it to your head. Since plaster bandages for masks is very expensive, a $5 donation toward supplies would be welcome.
- Demo masks—bring some of your Chinese and Latin American masks; I'll bring plaster demos.
- Poster paint: red, yellow, blue plus turquoise, magenta, black & white, gesso, clear sealant. Big flat 1/2" wide poster paint brushes, and small round watercolor brushes. 6 to 12 egg cartons to mix paints, and large containers to rinse brushes, paper towels, newspaper.
- Surgical bandages 4" rolls; each roll makes 2-3 masks—depending upon face size.
- Vaseline. Lots of scissors to cut bandages; I have a pattern to u se.
- Interesting junk to add onto masks Hot glue guns and tacky glue (&/or Elmer's Glue—it makes a good clear glaze too). Elastic and paper ring hole reinforcers for the holes, felt to line the masks.
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