Interpret the word ‘Mask’. What does it mean to you?
Those were the instructions for an upcoming art show in Regina. Step, trip, stop, repeat. Those actions slogged away as I ran around inside my brain trying to corral an idea that would do justice to the concept. Notions involving various PPE (it is 2022 so I don’t have to explain that!) kept running in circles around the corral. Leaving the corral gate open to allow facial masks the freedom to escape was a good strategy. As days passed, ‘The Man in Moon’ was eventually cornered and a stout rope clipped to the halter. Subconscious childhood memories of gazing up at a harvest moon, a sliver of a waning moon, a full bright crescent moon, a moon dressed in fall reds and oranges from combines spouting grain dust into the night sky, or a moon crescent on an outhouse door, all fuelled a final plan. I would carve a face into a lidded bowl, add texture and paint and fill the bowl with various interpretations of ‘masked’ celestial objects.
Here is the result. (12″ diameter)
6 Comments
Simply amazing! Your words painted the perfect picture…thank you for sharing! I think the moon of your childhood was the moon of my childhood too ♥️
Oh Trent how you made us chuckle with admiration at your moon creations! Love the whimsy, the menace, and the memory of looking out into the dark from the childhood bedroom window at the moon in her phases. So creative and delightful. You must have had fun inventing and creating this loveliness! It will be a super part of a lovely exhibition. ❤️
This post makes me happy! Thank you.
Fantastic. I would love to run my hand over the texture on the moon’s surface and touch all the carved pieces resting inside.
Obviously the actual and visual texture appeals to me
This is a great piece Trent. Your ‘man in the moon’ face manages to be cheeky and friendly but also menacing…haunting even !… Brings back some of those not so happily-ever-after fairy tales and dreams. Yes, when and where is the exhibition in Regina?
Oh, I like it. Very inventive. The moon means so much to us earthlings. We all have so many memories of looking up at the moon and wondering… Your interpretations are both revealing and fun. Well done.
Where will this bowl be shown in Regina?
EE