Bid to win these Confluence Revisited by Jenny Leigh Du Puis & Armor Against the Invisible Enemy by Thom Sirkot MasquerAID Masks!
Artist: Jenny Leigh Du Puis and Thom Sirkot
Title: “Confluence Revisited” and “Armor Against the Invisible Enemy” MasquerAID Masks
Year created: 2020
Medium: Mixed-Media
Height (inches): 1
Depth (inches): 1
Description of piece:
"Confluence Revisited" by Jenny Leigh De Puis As a circus and theatrical costume designer/technician and Ph.D. student in Apparel Design, I wanted to use my skills in sewing and functional design to make something meaningful out of the chaos of the pandemic and quarantine. I’ve been revisiting past costume designs through creating art masks, exploring handcraft techniques, and using the process to center my artistic practice on making. When I saw the call to artists for the MasquerAID Entertainment Relief auction, I knew immediately that I wanted to get involved. As the pandemic has devastated the live entertainment industry, so too has it resulted in financial hardship for many people in my professional and social circles – many of whom have benefited from the resources provided by The Actors Fund. I think that if we have the capabilities to help by using our skills and talents to aid others when we are able, then we must find a way to do so. The design behind this mask comes from a wearable art garment I created in my graduate studies, inspired by a circus ringmaster’s tailcoat and top hat. It featured tailoring, millinery, and hand beading. In this mask, I recreated the beading details with original materials atop a neoprene base.
“Armor Against the Invisible Enemy” by Thom Sirkot This mask is influenced by battle armor and the masks currently being made for donation to hospitals and at-risk workers across the country. Having made and donated 500 masks and counting to the cause, it was an instinctual thought to create a mask in this style representing the safety and battle we fight every day when we leave the safety of our homes for necessary reasons. Created by a costume designer facing inevitable postponement and the challenge to source materials, the mask has been made from materials already on hand. Reversible sequin fabric from what would have been the current production was used to create the actual face mask. The mask is embellished with large crystals to represent the bright lights that we hope to return to while some of the stones have been tarnished and stripped of the reflective backing to pay tribute to the productions and the theaters that have lost their opportunity to shine through these challenging times. Finally, a shroud of chainmail created from safety pins represents the safety and protection of wearing a mask when venturing to public spaces. The hood cascades into six-foot tendrils representing the social distance we struggle to maintain. This is my “Armor Against the Invisible Enemy”.
Artist bio:
Jenny Leigh De Puis was inspired by her project she worked on in her Master's studies at Auburn University to explore how traditional artisans incorporate contemporary technologies into their practice.
Thom Sirkot is a costume designer and shop manager at the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble. He is a passionate creator working in the arts throughout the Eastern Pennsylvania region.
MasquerAID is a fundraising effort from Costume Professionals for Wage Equity and features artists that have been hard at work creating one-of-a-kind works of art for you to take home! Own a piece of theatre history and help the many entertainment workers who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.