Masks

I collect masks. There is something about them that I find fascinating. Firstly, I appreciate them as art, marveling at all the work that went into making them--the carving or sculpting and the metal or bead inlays. Secondly, I love how they are reflective of the culture of the people who made them--what they represent and how they are used. I have them from many countries. Some of them are scary, some happy, some primitive and some detailed and all of them, with 2 exceptions, are human.

This one is a small ceramic mask from Mexico. Technically, I would not really call this a mask since it has no eye holes (my own rigid criteria) but I fell in love with the lines of it and schlepped it home in my carry-on luggage. I came down the hall this week and the sun was slanted across the mask in such a fantastic way, I ran for the camera. Look at that eye.