Make a "cartoon" character

You can “cartoonise” the human face shape of your Multimask by cutting the nose out, plaster it over and then use more plaster bandage to make whatever shape is wanted!

Cereal box card works great for extensions

Cereal box card has the critical weight and bendability for mask-make purposes. If the card is heavier it can't bend or be manipulated. If lighter, it doesn't hold its shape and glue in the right manner. So ask your students to bring in empty cereal boxes from home; they are just perfect for making extensions and re-shaping the Multimask starter base into storybook characters, animals & birds & bugs, etc.

To see more of the Port Chalmers mask-make project using cereal box card extensions visit http://www.photoblog.com/showoffs/2009/11/22/maskmagicalwe-are-here-maps--masks.html

Junk to Funk

Above is a group photo of Year 1 and 2 students of Hillpark Primary School, NZ proudly wearing their insect and spider masks created as part of a wearable exhibition - The "Junk to Funk" Show - using recyclable materials like newspaper, bottle tops, magazine picture cutouts, seed pods off trees, etc. Littlies want to step into the world of make-believe and with the help of their colourful insect, critter and creature masks children are able to conquer fears, banish nightmares, make new friends, grow creative confidence, achieve success and build self-esteem. Transforming junk into funky masks is a great idea!!

Midwinter & Matariki Masks DownUnder SLIDESHOW

Photographing Mask Work

An inexpensive digital camera is quite sufficient for photographing mask work although there is a knack to getting gorgeous compositional shots with great atmosphere and style and visual interest. Because the light bounces off masks in unusual ways the photographer has to master the angles exactly, get the eyes in the right position (if the mask is being worn) or get the light in the eyes (if not worn), arrange a complementary backdrop, or perhaps add a small prop to the staging, etc.

Like faces, some mask designs are just more 'photogenic' than others. Sometimes an ordinary-looking mask photographs really well, while a clever/complex mask doesn't. It's all in the lighting which brings the magic in...light is where it falls and the fact that you can never quite control it makes the photographic work artistic.

A strong collection of mask images can be posted online [or sent to masks@maskworx.co.nz for adding to the SHOWOFFS COLLECTION], or published in the form of calendars which make great Christmas presents for parents or thank-you gifts for classroom helpers.
Note: Warehouse Stationery has easy-to-use calendar-making technology.

Voice Projection

If the students need to speak or sing in their masks, it's better if the masks are cut away from the mouth [half-masks] in order to project the voice better. Alternatively, the open or gaping mouth (as per the mask above) would do the trick. Wearing a full face mask on stage tends to muffle the voice.

Happy Yellow Sneetches

One clever teacher organised a band of enthusiastic parent-helpers to help make this collection of Dr. Seuss "Sneetches", then the children wore them in the Stars on Stage performance. First she sorted making a demo mask (this was done in an earlier mask making session) which was then copied by the parents. This way the masks all end up looking alike, a necessity for stage performance, and the children get to have a great time without losing any ordinary lesson time. It just makes us happy looking at this image (photo supplied by Rotary Park School, Dunedin NZ).