High Caliber Mask Work
Just a few moments from the improvisations today.
Embodiment. Being and Doing.
Playing Commedia Day Two
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Playing Commedia
Day One: What a wonderful day, great group of performers, lovely space and sunshine all day. Inspiring or what? Playful, proper learning, embodied, relevant and alive.
Ten performers bringing a wealth of experience into the room along with open hearts and joyful enthusiasm. They are led gently though an alchemical process of an oral/ bodily tradition allied with imagination, improvisation and inspiration.
What a delight and joy to be part of this.
OutBurst 5
Clay designs made, starting the papering process. We has a visit from Sarena to tell us more about the Carnival Parade we shall be joining on Light Night. Over the evening about 12 folks put in their time and effort. We shall have a gang going to the ball.
A great atmosphere this evening, good humour, perseverance and hard labour in short bursts. Some great ideas and some extremely fast realisations. From clay into paper.
First Steps on Magnifico Mask
Into the Clay: first Day
OutBurstFour
Session Four being the day we make clay designs for the masks. Great session. Although we seem to have lost three people, we look to have gained five new participants. Next week we shall move into casting in paper.
Three Zanni’s move on.
Papering done (three layers) , waiting for the masks to dry in the moulds which takes some time with new moulds (wet plaster) and because of the winter cold.
Wood blocks being prepared for carving. Using the best quality pine I can find. It is not high-grown Alpine pine but the best I can easily find from the usual local sources. If it is no good enough, I shall just have to hone sourcing skills.
Il Magnifico
Drawings: moving betwixt Eagle and Human…not married the two images yet. More work to be done
Painting Re-Visited
Today I re-hung an old painting which I made in 89/90 while living in Brittany. Curious as to how I made work then, I found the figures have mask like faces, yes, the mask was with me then, I just hadn’t discovered it. Technically it is a bit rubbish, but looking at it again after 26 years helps me clarify my trajectory. At that time I was rediscovering the figurative while looking at my own personal and political concerns….sexuality, individualism and community. Concerns which occupy my practice to this day.
Moulds
The moulds for the three new Zanni masks are now made and waiting to be papered.
Summoning the Spirit of Magnifico
Stephen Jon Mask 