Mrs. Buss created these Masks, she chose to represent envy and justice. In many tribal cultures of Africa, masks are made to represent emotion, morals, or an event. In this project think about what emotion you might like to represent, happiness, joy, peace, etc... Think about what shapes or colors might represent those emotions. More geometric, squares, triangles might represent something different from curvilinear or curvy lines. Masks can represent some thing about ourselves, something we want to be, or they can disguise. You can also represent characteristics such as beauty, strength, wisdom, or knowledge. Often masks represent what is desirable or they represent something to avoid. In my examples I chose envy (undesirable) and justice. Have fun with creating your mask. Instructions
Inspiration Traits representing moral values in tribal masks are found in many cultures. Masks from the Senufo people of Ivory Coast, for example, have their eyes half closed, symbolizing a peaceful attitude, self-control, and patience. In Sierra Leone and elsewhere, small eyes and mouth represent humility, and a wide, protruding forehead represents wisdom. In Gabon, large chins and mouths represent authority and strength. The Grebo of the Ivory Coast carve masks with round eyes to represent alertness and anger, with the straight nose representing an unwillingness to retreat.
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Andy Goldsworthy, Rowan Leaves and Hole, 1987. One of my favorite artists that I first learned about from my early college years is Andy Goldsworthy, a born in 1956 in England. I love his impressive use of nature within nature. He uses the brilliance of nature to create a new experience. In many of his works he uses a circular placement of sticks, stones, leaves. In combination with the concept of a mandala we can all embrace what nature has to offer. In gathering things that surround us and rearranging them gives us a sense of beauty and importance. Mandalas have long since been a part of the human experience. From the ancient Minoan labyrinths, navajo mandalas, Tibetan monks, rosette windows of medieval cathedrals, and many other cultures, the placement and design in the round is as old as humankind.
A lot has been written on the subject of mandalas. Search for yourself! These are a few links I found informative:
https://www.invaluable.com/blog/what-is-a-mandala/ http://www.mandalaproject.org/What/Main.html https://artfulparent.com/mandalas-in-nature-mandala-art/ In this project we combine making unique papers to collage and "drawing with scissors" to create an expressive piece of art. Matisse became so ill later in his life that he was bedridden. He was confined to his bed and required to use a wheelchair which made him unable to paint and create art just like he had always done. He was able to find a new way to express creative work through "paper cut-outs". Matisse overcame adversity and found a new way to express himself. Maybe when you are sad or something isn't going the way you expected, you too can find a different way to see, feel, or do in that situation. Maybe you too can over come those moments in life with flexibility and grace and create something beautiful too!
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AuthorI have a passion for the visual arts and love sharing it with others. I have enjoyed teaching all ages and love to incorporate art history and traditional disciplines as well as innovative ideas. Art is vital to who I am as a creator and educator. Archives
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