The annual Masks Exhibit and Auction for the Museum of Art | Fort Collins will be open to visitors -- virtually, at first -- in May 2020.
Due to the spread of Covid-19 in early March, the Museum closed its doors to the public temporarily on March 16. Meanwhile, the board and staff of the Museum developed an alternative solution to opening the Masks Exhibition in the museum: a Digital Masks Exhibition and Online Auction!
According to a Museum e-mail message on April 8, "You’ll soon be able to visit our virtual Masks Exhibition to view the masks and read artists’ stories." On their website and social media platforms, the Museum is keeping the Masks tradition alive with a Phase 1 campaign to "showcase the creativity of our Mask artists and their masks" through May 5.
Phase 2: the Online Masks Auction will go live on May 6. Along with online photos of the masks and written artists statements, visitors will be able to hear -- in the artists' own voices -- more information on many of the mask entries. This Phase 2 will continue through June 28.
Phase 3: the Museum of Art | Fort Collins will open to the public June 14-28. Depending on public health and safety, the Museum will have a public opening for the final two weeks of the Masks Exhibition. The auction will conclude on June 28, 2020.
What to do now:
Be sure to follow the Museum's posts on Instagram (@moafortcollins), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MoAFortCollins/), and the Museum's website (www.moafc.org) for the latest updates on the DaVinci Sign Systems/Eye Center of Northern Colorado Masks Exhibition 2020.
To see my finished 2020 mask titled "Floating" and to learn more about its creation, CLICK HERE. You'll see my step-by-step photos with descriptive captions walking you through my process (and my messy studio!).
Stay safe, and I hope to see you in person soon!
- Gale
My 2020 Mask Statement
“Floating”
An island of plastic “the size of Texas” floats in the earth's oceans. The presence of plastic contaminants is actually more dispersed, less visible and more harmful to ocean life than a solitary island. Plastics break down into tiny particles and are ingested by animals all the way up the food chain. With my rainbow inspired 2020 Mask composition, I wish to raise consciousness of this reality and create hope that we can be more responsible about our use of disposable plastic products.
- Gale Whitman
December 2019