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 :)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beginning to add different shades of green for the lawn

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

I spackled the corners of my thrift store frame

Collecting golden yellow paint scraps for autumn tree foliage

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

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

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

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

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

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

Touch-up paint conceals spackled corners of frame

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

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