THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED

CREATE OUR OWN NEOPRENE CLOWN MASK – With Craig Jacobrown

Participants will begin by observing, encountering, and learning to ‘read’ a set of clown masks: analyzing the shapes, weight, and lines of the masks for how they lend themselves to character movement and mask carriage. Participants will make sketches and/or take photos of the human body moving while they suggest the mask model follow their directions. The sketches and photos of performers in the set of clown masks will inform the actors about how masks ‘move’ best before the designer dives into drawing up their own clown mask design. After completing a character mask design on paper participants will complete a clay mask positive and pour a plaster mask negative on the clay positive. The clay can immediately be removed from the plaster negative after pouring. After the plaster negative has cured for at least a day it will be ready for participants to pour the liquid Neoprene (Industrial Latex) to make the positive mask. After at least a day when the neoprene mask has dried, participants will remove masks from the plaster mold, trim the edges, add the band and paint their masks. Participants who are enrolled in Benjamin Bass’ or Patricia Dominguezes’ mask movement workshop may be able to use their new neoprene masks in a performance demonstration with the cohort. Participants who are just enrolled with Craig’s latex mask fabrication workshop may choose to participate in a mask modeling pageant for the mask demonstration/performance or display them in our ‘Gallery’.

Please note: All workshop participants of The Mask Arts Symposium will be able to join our free in-house “Finding Funding & Grants for Artists” workshop. During our open house on Oct 1st & 2nd, they will also be invited to display their masks as well as perform and demonstrate with their masks.

Showtimes

Health & Safety

Proof of vaccination is required to attend this event. For the safety of audiences, artists, staff, and our greater community, you must be fully vaccinated to attend this event. Fully vaccinated means two weeks after your second dose. You will be asked to show proof of vaccination before entering the venue. Accepted forms for proof of vaccination include: a physical vaccine card with your name on it or a digital photo of your vaccine card on a cell phone. Please plan accordingly.

Masks must also be worn for the duration of the performance.

Content Considerations

Appropriate for Ages 18+

Audience Instructions

Proof of  Covid 19 vaccination is required at the door for all Mask Arts Symposium workshops and on the Open House days as well.

About the Artists

Craig began acting like a clown as a survival mechanism as a white boy in a primarily African American school in Seattle. Later he trained in the Jaques Lecoq method of mask carriage and clowning including Neutral, Basel Carnival and Commedia del’ Arte mask traditions. Craig continued his studies of mask and puppetry traditions including Balinese Topeng, where his dance teacher, Ida Bagus Sutarja, told him that he would need to learn to design and carve his own clown masks to become a true clown. Craig continued to focus on carving and design and how it relates to how people and animals move. Craig studied in Turkey and began designing, writing, and performing Turkish Karagoz ‘Living Newspaper’ shadow puppetry performances. When he returned to Seattle, he regularly performed to celebrate Turkish American culture. Meanwhile, Craig served several formal apprenticeships with Northwest indigenous carvers such as Duane Pasco and Joe Ives, dancers such as Henry Seaweed, and storyteller/musicians such as George Melas Taylor. Then, with the Hamumu Arts Collective (www.hamumu.org), which Craig helped found in 2004, he was able to perform NW indigenous spirit guardian mask and puppetry performances that brought to life ancient wisdom that can have an impact on future generations. Craig began teaching and directing theater in 1981 and has produced and performed mask, puppetry, theater and film professionally since 1983. Beginning as a performer, his mask design, fabrication and carving has brought to life stories even as he became a sculptor of wood, steel, and bronze with pieces in private and public collections across the country. With his wife, Zann, and son, Toby, Craig runs a mask design, fabrication, and education company called ‘The Maskery’ (www.themaskery.com) that sells masks for theater programs around the world. He also continues to train performers in mask carriage in universities, high schools, and primary schools throughout North America.