Curated by the Michigan Legacy Art Park, over 200 paper mache masks will be on display at CTAC-TC as part of the “Stay Safe” Masks Project, a community art project exploring life in quarantine.
Created by artist and Art Park Director of Education Patricia Innis, the goal of the “Stay Safe” Masks Project is to invite individuals to reflect on their personal experiences during quarantine and to foster a sense of connection through the arts. Participants decorated white paper mache masks to depict their quarantine activities, thoughts, and emotions. Participants described the experience as creative, reflective, and as an innovative tool to discuss the ongoing health crisis with others.
Seven local high schools and organizations have participated in this new exhibit including Traverse City High School, Traverse City West & Central High Schools, Benzie County High Schools, Frankfort High School, and Arts for All, among others. Since launching in the fall last year during the quarantine, over 1,000 high School students, families, and individuals from the Grand Traverse area and nationally have now decorated masks in this growing public art project. The project has reached as far as California, Minnesota, and Colorado.
The project has grown from an original collaboration and exhibits between the Art Park and the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, who hosted over 400 masks created by individuals from across the state and country in February, including from international legend James Earl Jones, Jr.
The Art Park has also published a How-To blog for anyone interested in participating in the project from home, creating your own version with groups or organizations, or trying it as a family.
About Michigan Legacy Art Park
Founded by internationally acclaimed artist David Barr in 1995 to enrich lives through experiences that connect art, nature, and Michigan’s history. Contemporary Art comes to life in the park’s permanent collection of almost 50 works, located in the midst of a 30-acre forest preserve. The Art Park hosts thousands of visitors and students each year, features miles of trails, world- class concerts outdoors, art and nature workshops, and extensive education programs. Visit michlegacyartpark.org.
