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(L
to R) Introductory sign in the library, preparatory drawing on display
with quote, and a photo of White Rooster in action.
(L
to R) Costume and mask of Lady Bird with A Past, with snuff-can;
Details of display -- eggs, nest, and Derringer pistol.
(L
to R) Details: Note badge with bullet-hole, and the color of the
Ace of Spades; Desert Bird, Black Masterson, &
Buzzy the Vulture.
(L
to R) White Rooster and Black Rooster, note the spurs
and cowboy boots; The artist setting up Lady Bird's photo
session.
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About
the Exhibit: As my final year at the University of Utah's Art
Department approached, I discussed the idea of doing a one-man show
as my senior thesis project with Dave Pendell, a professor of Ceramics
and Sculpture. These endeavors were once required before graduation,
but those rules had changed -- However, I wanted to keep my hand
in the Performing Arts, and also needed a 3-D credit, so Dave agreed
to act as my advisor.
The Marriott Library had previously accepted a little bit of help
from me for an exhibit about Art in Comic Books, so I approached
Laird Rodet and Sharon Shepherd about using their glass display
cases to suggest a kind of Western movie scenario using masks, props,
and costumes. They consented, and the results are shown above, with
photos by John Listopad PhD, then a graduate student in Asian Art
History.
Buzzy the Vulture was the first mask I completed -- Pendell
was very pleased, but made some suggestions which improved the quality
of every subsequent character in the series. Professional photographer
Bob Bauer shot the B&W picture of White Rooster, and
I received much-needed help from Sharon's assistant Dorothy while
setting up, and taking down, the exhibition.
This wasn't the last show I did at the University, but the experience
of Masks and Transformations helped me tremendously when
I was in charge of installing the very large-scale group exhibit
for our Sumi-é class at the end of my graduating year.
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