Way Out West

I was fortunate enough to participate in a June artist-in-residency at the Mystery Ranch in Searchlight, Nevada. I was also able to take a road trip to Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, and Death Valley National Park. I modeled and photographed 12 masks in these parks and at the Mystery Ranch. This was my 7th artist-in-residency and my first time visiting the Mojave desert area. Many thanks to Kim Garrison for inviting me to the Ranch! During June and July, all my mask sales will benefit the Mystery Ranch arts and science programing.

Skull Rock at Joshua Tree National Park

Camera Obscura house at the Mystery Ranch

Dante’s View overlook at Death Valley National Park. Badwater Basin (-282 ft sea level) seen below.

Mari Lwyd horse mask at Joshua Tree National Park. Modeled by Thom Maurer.

CLOWN show at Elephant Gallery

I loved being apart of Elephant Gallery’s CLOWN show this October / November. Elephant is the most interesting, experimental, and unique gallery in Nashville, Tennessee. My favorite part was the dress-up show opening. Here are a couple links about the show: NATIVE and HYPERALLERGIC. Also, ever since the show I can’t stop making Clown masks. Help!

With Nashville artist Lindsy Davis

With Nashville ceramics artist Keavy Murphree

Me and my Clown masks

Lassen Volcanic National Park Artist-In-Residency

I had the privilege of being an Artist-In-Residence for Lassen Volcanic National Park in North California.  I lived and worked in the park for two weeks in July.  As with my previous National Park residency, I focused on creating regional animal inspired masks.  Lassen has a particularly unique landscape: it boasts all four types of volcanos.  I was able to photograph and model my masks on a plug dome, composite, shield, and cinder cone volcano.  There may be no other place in the world where I could have done that in a relatively short period of time.  I also enjoyed photographing the masks on snow drifts, frozen lakes, lava tube caves, and deep blue lakes.  You can follow all of my modeled masks on my Instagram account. 

Artist residence / studio view. 

Artist-In-Residency lodging in the Park Ranger quarters. 

Mask Day at the Loomis Museum at Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Visitors were invited to watch my process and learn about the art of mask making.  

"Cinder Cone" volcano at Lassen Volcanic National Park

Night sky photograph I took at "Chaos Crags" volcano at Lassen Volcanic National Park 

Lassen Peak and Lake Manzanita