"Spirit of the Mask"

Owned by Carla Hanson

of Shawnee, KS

[On Display March 9, 2007 to April 22, 2007]

The exhibit includes over 100 masks from 5 continents, 40 countries and nearly a dozen Native tribes.

Carla Hanson grew up in Waterville, Kansas.  The first time she dressed for Halloween she knew masking was special.  Taking many anthropology classes at Kansas State University and meeting people from other cultures was an enlightening experience for her.  In August, 1992, she purchased her first ethnic mask.  Two days later she had three masks; a month later - four.  Now her collection has grown into the hundreds, representing more than forty countries and nearly a dozen Native American nations.
She shares them with us today, because the masks are truly wonderful pieces of art and she feels we can learn much from other cultures.  The masking traditions can teach us how these cultures deal with their lives and their environment.The mask is part of a much larger ritual, including costumes, musicians, singers, dancers, magic and drama.  Almost anything you can think of was used to create these masks - caribou skin, cow's teeth, horsehair, jewels, gold leaf, coins, feathers and mirrors.

"Devil Dragon" - 1950 from Bolivia, South America

"Devil Mask" - 1990 from Miranda, Venezuela

"Goat, Rooster, Wolf" - 1999 from Russia

"Old Man Mask" - 1993 from Moldavia, Romania

"The Devil" - 1997 from Domincan Republic

"Beaded Mask" - 1910 from the Yoruba Tribe, Nigeria

"Social Control" - 1980 from the Cameroon Grasslands, Africa

"Vejigante" - 1998 from Puerto Rico