Boss Lou
Mythic Masks, a series of 8x10 black-and-white portraits, explores the creation of the mask as a guide: for a stage of life, for a force, and for a harmony of spirit.
During my time as an artist-in-residence at the Newburgh Ministry, a drop-in center, I developed a NYSCA-funded program focused on mask making. Having already created relationships with the members of the Ministry during the production of my photographic series, “Around Lander Street” , I was able to work closely with each participant to bring their mask’s character into being. This “being” can represent their inner vision, whether reflecting their larger dreams or embodying an archetype.
The mask making process became an opportunity for the individual to navigate and reshape their personal narrative. It allowed for a transformative experience in which barriers could be confronted and new identities or aspects of self could emerge.
This project is informed by the ideas of Joseph Campbell in The Power of Myth regarding the function of the mask, and by the work of Stephen Larsen in The Mythic Imagination, who uses mask making therapeutically in his own practice.
Ultimately, our masks speak to the larger questions of how we define ourselves, the roles we assume throughout life, and the ways in which creative expression can foster healing, empowerment, and connection.
On Stage
Total Eclipse of the Sun
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River God
Maja
Faith
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