Maskmaking Workshop
Masks have long served as culturally significant objects across the globe since time immemorial. From communicating with ancestors & spirits of the land, to their use for protection & performing healing rituals, to theater & modern day community ceremonies, masks have evolved alongside humanity and shaped our cultures.
Immerse yourself in a three day workshop facilitated by Arulu, guiding us through a hands-on process of making your own paper maché mask in an intimate, creative space!
Participants are encouraged to consider what they would like to make beforehand as our time together will be filled to the brim. We will be diving straight into instructional demos and Q&A. Each day will involve a different stage of the process so it’s imperative to be present for the whole workshop or you will miss important information.
We close out our final day with a fun creative photoshoot with everyone’s finished masks and group show & tell.
All artistic skill levels welcome! Prior clay experience helpful but not required.
What To Bring:
All basic materials (clay, paper, glue, basic paint colors, shared clay tools & brushes) will be provided, as well as a limited number of heat guns & hot glue guns.
Participants are strongly encouraged to bring any additional materials for final surface adornment. Consider objects from nature, feathers, shells, silk flowers, cloth strips, a strap for the mask, beads, any special paint or fancy paper, etc.
If you have your own tools, please bring them. Clay tools, brushes, an exacto blade, scissors, glue gun, heat gun, & insulative foam. A sketch book & drawing implements.
When & Where
October 16th-18th (Fri-Sun)
We will meet from 11am-6pm each day with a break for lunch at 2. Bring your own food or enjoy any of the numerous local options within walking distance.
At Solhawk in Lyons, Colorado
Solhawk is a beautiful space functioning as a working tattoo shop in downtown Lyons, and they are generously letting us take over for the weekend. Lyons is 20 min from Boulder & 1 hr from Denver International Airport.
Cost & Registration
Cost is sliding scale $350-500. This is to keep it accessible to lower income folks. If you can afford more, please contribute more to support me continuing to offer these workshops! There are no work-trade positions or payment plans available at this time.
To register, please send an email to houseofarulu@gmail.com with your name and Maskmaking in the subject field. This is a first come, first served basis, & registration will only be complete once full payment is received. This is non-refundable. A welcome email will be sent a week before the workshop. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Arulu is a multimedia visual artist specializing in the sculpting of clay and paper-mache masks inspired by her elaborate dreams and the spiritual dimension of the natural world. Arulu’s interest in making masks originates in her study of the ancient ceremonial use of masks worldwide as well as the innate power of transformation that masks evoke.
Explore the visual gallery of Arulu’s mask work HERE
Student Gallery
All photos below by Mike Talyad
Mask-Making Workshop
REGISTRATION OPENS FEB 15, LIMITED TO 12 PARTICIPANTS; LOCATION TBD IN ASHEVILLE AREA:
In this 3-day workshop, participants will be guided through a hands-on process of making their own paper maché mask. Masks have long served as ceremonially significant objects in many cultures across every continent for embodying and working with spirits and archetypal energies. Participants are encouraged to consider what they would like make beforehand, but will also be led through a guided meditation to contact the spirit of the mask they will make over the course of the weekend. The process involves sculpting a clay mold, making a paper maché mask over this base mold, and finishing with surface decoration. All basic materials (clay, paper, glue, paint, sculpting tools, brushes, etc) will be provided, but participants are invited to bring any materials for inspiration: (consider objects from nature, shells, silk flowers, cloth, beads, etc, & if you have your own clay tools please bring them!). We will be co-creating a ritual space, so please come with the spirit of collaboration. We will conclude with wearing & embodying our masks to be witnessed by one another. All artistic skill levels welcome, prior sculpting experience helpful but not required.
NCECA
Arulu will be participating in a group exhibition showing new work with members of Odyssey Clayworks at NCECA annual conference Gallery Expo in Richmond, VA.