Silver Falcon

Of all the masks that I have created thus far, this mask went through more design evolutions than any of the others.

I use the word "evolution" in this instance purposefully. At times, it really felt as if the mask was evolving on its own. I would add and sculpt and adapt elements on the piece without even thinking about it. There were days when I went back to the mask, and found myself asking: 'When did I do that?' This was really a magical experience for me, and a frustrating one as well!

Until I let the mask 'take over', as it were, I found myself undoing things I had done. Once I learned how to listen to the speakings of the mask itself, the process became easier.

However, even when I finally thought the mask was 'finished', I was still not satisfied with the piece, but I did not have any idea as to what was missing. Then one day, after I had put it aside out of frustration (I had not even photographed it), I thought that the missing link was 'movement'--that the piece needed some sort of 'movement'. But I still had no idea as to how I would create that movement. Then the idea of the pendants came to me: when the mask is worn and held, the pendants move. I love the effect!

This was also my most arduous piece, being made over a period of nearly two years.

Once more, because the finish is metallic, it has been difficult for me to capture the exact color of the piece in photographs. The actual color is that of really tarnished silver.