Page 51 - Phoenix2002-03

FEATURES Wednesday, October 23, 2002 - Page 7 Hey, don't you make that face! "Look mom. iI's mini me!" Makes you wonder how long he call hold this pose This is the new improved mud mask. McDaniel College students discover what it is like to be plastered STAel GEORGE& JENN Bi'lU,ARD Face castings were used walked around and helped the in- pointed on the mask-like casting. She and Derek Weber travel Senior Wri/er & SralfWriler throughout the. world both experi enccd- yet -eager- to- get - it- This was the fifth workshop for half the year and reside in Texas Imagine silting still for 20 min- Sharnanistically and Ritualistically. right casters. Curtis at McDaniel College. Sue the other half, keeping ali ve the tra- utes, with eyes closed and unable Her brochure says thnt face cast- Those who have had facials in Bloom, Chair of Art and Art His- dition of face casting. Traveling, to talk, while someone places ings are "an ultimate portrait for all the past thought this experience tory and professor of Art, first met and not staying in a big city like pieces of wet plaster bandages 011 times." reminded them of a facial. Curtis at the Renaissance Festival New York city, makes her prices your face. Death masks date back to Jeri- "It was a unique and creative four years ago. more affordable by affording her a For those who attended Ann cho in the 5th millennium B.C. experience. Overall it was very re- Bloom thought it would be fun large clientele and at the same time Lyneah Curtis' face casting work- Henry the 4th had a mask made laxing and like a facial," remarked for students to learn how to cast. gives people that would not nor- shop on Wednesday, October 9, before he died, and it was painted Christina Collins-Smith, a So each year before she heads back mally see a craft like this a chance there is no need to imagine what to look exactly like his own face. McDaniel student who participated to Texas after the Renaissance Fes- to experience it. the above feels like. After he had died, actors put on the in the night's castings. tival concludes, Curtis holds her As far as Curtis knows, she is Curtis, who runs her Masquer- mask and went through the streets Several pledged to have their workshop. the only artist who offers double ade Face Casting business in portraying their deceased king, ex- face casted again and to continue "I love having her here. Lots of body and finished fantasy artwork Harper, Texas, welcomed approxi- plained Curtis. practice casting. different students are here each of the customers themselves in mately 15 McDaniel College stu- Before the students could begin Freshman Natasha Young com- year and they get inspired to cast clay. SheaJs~ does not simpJycast, dents mro her world of face cast- casting each other, Curtis did a mented, "It was a cool experience. more." Curtis began her career by but also paints the finished works ing. demonstration on Calvin Bloom, l've never been so still in my life. traveling and drawing portraits. to the customers' specifications. This was a good tum out, con- owner of Cal Bloom's Barber I'd definitely do it again." Her fascination with the human If you want more info about sidering a hands-on workshop like Shoppe on Main Street. As she Young added that she would try face eventually lead her to making Ann Curtis, Life Casting or just this would be total chaos with as went through the procedure step by to convince her six year-old sister plaster (the old fashioned kind with want to see the amazing pieces on many as five more students. Not to step, she made sure to emphasize to be her model as she practiced straws up the nose) casts of the her web site check out mention it was in stiff (no pun in- things like not covering the nostrils casting. face. www.1ifecasting.netorwriteto: tended) competition with studying and to get air bubbles out. After everyone had the oppor- In 1986 she began selling Masquerade Life Casting for midterms. the Alcohol Aware- Students then partnered up and tunity to cast and be casted, every- people their own faces .... and bod- 1029 KC 434 ness play, and the Iraq forum. the adventure began. Curtis, one gathered to see what the holo- ies, hands and feel at street fairs and Harper, TX 78631-5015 The night began by putting this Calvin, Curtis' assistant Derik We- gram would show when the lights Renaissance Festivals across the 830-864-5327 art form into historical context. . ber, and art professor Sue Bloom were off and a flashlight was nation. Maasai tribal professional dancers. By, and I." S/(lffWrit~r people are suffering 'Instead, they are ordi- The dances and songs were in- On Wednesday, October 16, economic difficulties nary people who are terspersed with Mr. Sironka ex- The Friends Of Sironka Dance and Mr. Sironka de- trying to improve the plaining the significance of particu- Troupe performed traditional cided to "empower lives of their people. tar dances and providing additional Maasai songs and dances in Alumni them with what they All the money that is insight about his culture. Hall for an audience of McDaniel had for what they raised through the Audience participation was en- students, faculty and their families. need." performances as well couraged with a Q & A session as Multicultural Services, CAPboard These Maasai as selling traditional well as dancers selecting audience and the Music Department teamed men and woman are Maasai beading and members to take on stage with up to bring these dancers to on their first tour of artifacts is to help them to dance to a Leaping song, McDaniel. the United States that built homes and edu- one that is performed by men when The troupe is lead by Nicolas is expected to last cate their children. they are interested in a particular Sironka, an artist and Fulbright through this Fall into Keseme Ole young woman. Scholar from the Maasai tribe in Spring 2003 to edu- Parsapaet is a dancer Dressed in traditional celebra- in his mid-twenties Kenya. He exhibits his artwork-at cate Americans about who joined the troupe tion garb songs were performed the Fulbright Gallery and believes the Maasai culture varying from one concerning a that art can transcend cultural dif- and raise money to because he finds it warrior and a lion, to praising their ferences and therefore be used as a help improve Jives of difficult to support his cows, to a lullaby designed to calm medium of cultural exchange. the Maasai in Kenya. is "The Maasai men and woman are on wife and daughters children to sleep. Song and dance are powerful The troupe with the money he People who enjoyed the show forms of communication given that made of [line men their first tour of the United States" makes raising cattle, could buy a CD of the troupe per- the Maasai culture was tradition- and one woman, in- stating, "this dance forming, sponsor a Maasai child, ally an oral one, with-written lan- cluding Mr. troop had gi ven me or buy artwork at the exhibit after the wife opportunity guage introduced by European mis- Sironka's and son Amos Koinet. None of the troupe members are find a better way of life for my fam- to their performance that evening and Seleina sionaries. in Ensor Lounge the next day.