Un Ballo in Maschera
(A Masked Ball)
The above piece will be auctioned off at a benefit for the DuPage Children's Museum in April of this year. A good friend and amazing artist, Laura Lein-Svencner, got me involved in this project.
The DuPage Children's Museum created this venue, with the goal to raise money and awareness of the importance of engaging young minds in all aspects of education . They put a call out to artists to donate our time and talent for The M.A.S.K. Project (Math, Art, Science for Kids).
Fifty masks were signed by celebrities including Barack Obama, Halle Berry and Tom Hanks. These masks were given to artists to transform. Part of the fun and challenge is to keep the celebrity signature visible while integrating it creatively into the overall design.
I was fortunate enough to receive a mask signed by world famous, Italian conductor, Ricarrdo Muti, music director and conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Which led me down the creative path of Giuseppe Verdi's three act opera, Un Ballo in Maschera. Playing opera in my studio I was inspired to give my mask a masquerade feeling. Using a combination of rich colors, sheet music, glazes and lace I pay tribute to the talent of conductor Muti and the genius of Verdi.
To learn more about the M.A.S.K project:
How amazing and creative to get a mask to transform into a work of art.. and for a good cause too. Thank you for leaving a comment at my blog post on artist block.. and for the recommendations for book and Ted talk... all very helpful.
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