My "Radiant One" 2025 Mask

It's time for the Museum of Art Fort Collins' annual MASKS exhibit and auction. Opening night is Friday, April 4, 2025; the exhibit and silent auction will remain open until June 6, 2025

For the Museum of Art Fort Collins' 2025 MASKS exhibit/auction I created a vibrant mosaic using the ceramic mask form, bits of colorful dried paint, a repaired panel of beadboard and a thrift store frame. Follow my step-by-step progress: click on any photo to see an enlarged image and descriptive caption.

To read my "Radiant One" artist statement just scroll down to the bottom of this page :)

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  I start by considering the mask form from different perspectives. What does the shape suggest to me?

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  When rotated upside down, the mask's nose looks a bit like a tree trunk

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  I began looking through photos of trees I'd taken earlier in the fall

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  This was a photo I took in 2023; I remembered liking the dramatic wide angle effect.

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  I painted several swatches of blue on a sturdy plastic bag to create paint 'skins' for my background

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  I began glueing some dried paint scraps onto the mask to depict the background autumn sky

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  Harvesting deep blue dried paint swatches from past mural "palettes"

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  I continued building my 'mosaic' by glueing more paint scraps onto the mask and beadboard panel

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  I used longer strips of dried dark brown paint for the tree branches

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  Beginning to add different shades of green for the lawn

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  Time to dry-fit the thrift store frame onto the developing collage

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  I spackled the corners of my thrift store frame

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  Collecting golden yellow paint scraps for autumn tree foliage

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  It's important to maintain a well organized, clutter-free workspace (ha!)

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  I continued adding scraps of dried golden yellow paint for the tree's leaves

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  Preparing to wire and glue the ceramic mask to the beadboard panel

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  Preparing to wire and glue the ceramic mask to the beadboard panel

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  I weighted the mask-glued-to-backing and waited overnight for the glue to harden

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  Back of the framed mosaic: connecting wire twisted tightly, 2 wood strips holding art inside frame

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  Touch-up paint conceals spackled corners of frame

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  My completed mask, packed in box and ready to be delivered to the Museum of Art Fort Collins

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  My finished piece, "Radiant One" as it appears in the 2025 Masks catalog

"Radiant One"

Last fall I wandered my neighborhood, awestruck at the beauty of the changing foliage. With my cell phone camera, I tried to capture the glow emanating from the sunlit tree leaves. My 2025 mask is inspired by a wide-angle picture I took from underneath a particularly stunning golden canopy. Breathtaking!​

The materials for this piece include the ceramic mask form, leftover dried paint, palette scraps, a glued-together panel of beadboard, and a thrifted wooden picture frame. Enjoy!

- Gale Whitman, 2025 Mask Statement