Mask Arts Symposium

WHAT IS THE MASK ARTS SYMPOSIUM?

The Mask Arts Symposium is a celebration and exploration of  masks, performance, and theatre making from master mask teachers Barbara Gregson, Craig Jacobrown, Patricia Dominguez and Alan Bell,  and Benjamin Bass . The Mask Arts Symposium will be held during the 2021 Philadelphia Fringe Festival across 8 days of curated workshops with an opportunity  for performance at its conclusion. This powerful and unique workshop will be hosted at the wonderful Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia, PA

WHEN IS THIS HAPPENING?

The Mask Arts Symposium is taking place during the Philadelphia Fringe Festival this upcoming fall. Our 8 day workshop will run between
Sept. 25 - Oct 2nd at the Asian Arts Initiative . (1219 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA)

WHY MASKS? WHY NOW?

In more ways than one we have spent the last year wearing masks. To protect, to keep out, to keep in. We wore masks to save the lives of those who are dear to us, as well as for the greater good. For many of us it was a year of anxiety and isolation, a year of lost opportunities and futures unknown. For others it was a year of reassessing priorities, a practice in pivoting, of investigating new projects and new ideas, of navigating through the fog,  stumbling into clarity. A year of new roles, lost roles, missed roles, expansion, grief, and growth. 

There is an expression, "Put a mask on so we can see who you are." What the Mask Arts Symposium will provide is an incredible opportunity for all artists to fiercely and freely rediscover their highest creative self. To re-engage with discovery and movement. To experience joy and expansion through creation and learning. To break free from the shackles of Zoom!

We believe that the mask offers both the untrained and trained actor a powerful tool for diving into their craft. The mask allows performers to bring to life and emphasize the very essence of the human experience into their theater. For those who are passionate or curious about learning and engaging with theatre masks this is an event not to be missed.

WHAT WE ARE OFFERING:

5 Teachers, 5 Backgrounds, 8 days of exploration.

Barbara Gregson:

Barbara Gregson is a Theater artist,  Director and author of “Theater Artists Play, a Theater Artist’s Guide to  Making and Creating  your Own Theater work!"

She studied drama at The Drama Studio in London England, Mime in Paris France with Ella Jaroszewicz, mask making in Italy with Donato Sartori, neutral mask with Jaques Lecoq, and Masks of the Goddess the US with Lauren Raine. 

She has spent 45 years  creating and making her own theater work, incorporating masks in her shows and in the productions that she directed for last 25 years.. Barbara teaches and directs workshops and  residencies throughout the US., receiving grants from DE. NJ. PA and NY State arts councils and foundations to do her work . Go to her website www.gregson.theater   for more info.


ArcheDream for HUMANKIND a 501(c)3 organization has performed shows and taught workshops to thousands of adults and children across the world, seeking to influence its audience to think beyond their means. ArcheDream for Humankind uses Archetypes- which are universal thoughts, ideas or emotions, in their performances to reach audiences across the globe.

ArcheDream for Humankind is the vision and voice of South African Artist, Alan Bell. Growing up in the age of Apartheid, he resolved to find an art form that would unify the radically divided audience in an ecstasy of wonder. In 1976, Alan fled to Amsterdam where he discovered the power of the tradition of mask theater to convey stories and unifying truths in a dreamlike and mythological way, resonating with the audiences subconscious perceptions and outward expressions. By combining the bold subtleties of mask theater with the medium of black light, Alan has discovered a method to bridge his African roots and inherited European and American culture to create archetypal theatre that transforms by relieving audiences of suppressed feelings that is at the root of our alienation from one another.  Check out their website here 

Craig Jacobrown:

Craig Jacobrown, sculptor, mask-maker, puppeteer, performer and educator has been performing puppetry and mask theater for over thirty-five years. He spent much of his youth and training in different Asian, European and Native American cultures until he began producing and teaching mask design and theater styles.

Craig’s expertise as a mask designer and puppeteer is informed by his work as a sculptor, with works of wood and bronze in many private and public collections. Craig has been teaching, performing and conducting theatre workshops in schools, colleges and theatres for over thirty years. He trained in the Lecoq method of movement before extensive study in Bali and the Northwest Coast with traditional mask performers and carvers. He also holds a BA in anthropology and a MA in teaching.

He and his wife run The Maskery  a theater mask-making and training company based out of Indianola, WA. 


Benjamin Bass: 

Benjamin Bass (They/Them) is a Philly based Actor, Theatre Teacher, and Poet. Graduating with their BFA from SUNY Purchase, Benjamin has been lucky enough to perform around the world. Notable credits include, "The Woodsman" (*Obie Award winner), "The Accountant" and the Chinese national tour of "One Starry Night"

Benjamin's mask background is in the Brahe Mask Method,  a deeply personal and highly physical work utilizing techniques such as Improvised Mask Exploration, Gabrielle Roth’s 5 Rhythms, and Somatic Intuition. They first began their training in this work under Akil Davis back in 2010 while pursuing their undergrad, and would eventually be given permission to teach by the originator of the method, Per Brahe.  

Both as a performer as well as an educator, Benjamin's work is predominately rooted in the exploration  and questioning of identity, acceptance, and expansion.  For more information check out their website at http://www.BenjaminBass.com 

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!

We are also offering a FREE 2 hour Artist's Grant Writing Workshop to anyone who takes one of the classes! This is an incredible opportunity for anyone who wishes to apply for grants but feels lost or overwhelmed! 

WHY DONATE?

Help us raise the funds  so  we may offer our Mask Arts Symposium to working artists of all disciplines, who are passionate about learning the art of mask making and mask performance and who will be able to  study and collaborate with us at a reasonable and affordable tuition. 

Your donation however small will help us pay for our mask making supplies and our studio rental  at The Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia during the Philadelphia Fringe Arts festival.

We need to raise $5000 in order to produce this truly one of a kind experience at an affordable tuition. 

The Donation Breakdown 

-$1150 for Faculty Housing and Travel

-$1000 for to the Asian Arts Initiative. (space rental, house staff) Check them out! They're awesome!  https://asianartsinitiative.org/.  

-$900  to fund the Mask Arts Symposium Artist (MASA) Scholarships: 3 Artists of the Global Majority who have demonstrated a desire and financial need to attend the  MAS will be awarded a full scholarship to attend all 8 days of workshops and performances.

- $600 for mask making workshop supplies 

- $500 for advertising (paying our designer, production and distribution of marketing materials)

- $500 for water, food and refreshments 

- $150 for Insurance

- $100 registration fee for the Fringe Festival

THANK YOU SO MUCH! 

Thank you so much for your time, consideration, and generosity. This event truly means a great deal to us and we cannot do it without your help. Please consider sharing this fundraising page on your social media and tell your friends!!

Best wishes,

Barbara, Ben, Craig, Patricia, and Alan. 

 - The Mask Arts Symposium