This design was an experiment in mask making. I’ve always enjoyed the highly decorated half masks of the Mardi Gras celebrations that I attended when working on my Master’s degree in Louisiana. I can’t wear them, because of my glasses, so I decided to make some in a different way. The “official” name of the half mask is ‘colombina’. They were originally worn by characters of the Commedia dell'arte, a type of theatre performance popular in 14th – 17th century Italy. This kind of mask is worn by Carnival goers the world over and has been popular for centuries.
