Masks of the Spirit World

My first masks were enlarged faces of some of my sculptures. I wanted to expand their size and impact. While the faces of the sculptures were only 2-3” high, the masks were scaled to life size. When you stare at a mask on human scale, it stares back.

Masks are an ancient art form. It’s something we all experience as kids. As an adult, they have a different effect on us. Creating one, that effect is even more revealing. The magic of a mask is its ability to either disguise the wearer or amplify a quality within us.

In my previous career as an art director, I realized early that images we hold in our mind’s eye can manifest themselves in the material world. Mask making is a pathway from imagination to reality.

Mixed media masks by Portland, Oregon sculptor, Chas Martin. These masks are expanded representations of full figure sculptures. Martin's inspiration for his...