Aggielife
Page 3 • Tuesday, June 22, 1999
At Face Value
MSC exhibit provides insight
into cultures of Spain and Mexico
BY BRIAN FLEMING
The Battalion
W hether worn for disguise, humor or rit
ual, masks have become a means to
study the cultures of the past. “The
Mexican Masks of the 20th Century,” featured
this month at the J. Wayne Stark University Cen
ter Galleries, brings a few such cultures to Texas
A&M.
At the exhibiit, a variety of masks can be seen
ranging from nearly every culture that can be
found in Spain and Mexico.
All of the masks featured come from a private
collection ownerii by Jean and Richard Kellawey.
“The best masks have a power beyond easy
explanation,” Richard Kellawey said in a press
release.
“They touch f€ i elings and memories that con
nect us with larger realities. As for me, I like be
ing alone with our masks, as long as I do not
have to look at thorn too closely.”
Catherine Hastedt, curator of the Stark Gal
leries, said the masks are more than a fashion
statement.
“The people that create these bring their ex
periences to the creation of the art,” she said.
“These masks really have two functions: story
telling and transformation. They put the mask on
and become someome else.”
The masks can represent social status, protect
the wearer from evi l or even be used in the work
ing of magic spells.
Hastedt said the masks are constructed from
a variety of materials and are all handmade.
“They are made from every conceivable ma
terial: wood, papiermache, plaster, ceramic, to
name a few,” Hastedt said. “Some are neat be
cause they are so lifelike — they really catch the
eye. ”
The exhibit is divided into four sections, each
representing a historically significant dance.
One mask from the portion of the exhibit,
called the “Dance of the Moors and the Chris
tians,” is made of formed copper with enamel
paint.
Other masks are made of rubber, hemp, ani
mal hair and leather. One is even made of ani
mal teeth.
“There are four major categories,” Hastedt
said. “The Dance of the Tiger, the Devils, the
Moores and the Christians (which is the largest
section), and the carnival-related masks.”
In fact, the “Dance of the Moors and the Chris
tians” was the first Spanish dance performed in
Mexico. It was used to teach the Mexican Indi
ans a belief in Christian superiority and refers to
the fall of the Moors to the Spanish in 1492.
“It’s interesting too, to see how the Christian
masks are portrayed with blue eyes and the
Moors with a darker, more complicated look,”
Hastedt said.
Many of these masks are not dated, but all of
the masks in the exhibit were constructed in the
20th century.
“The characteristics of the masks identify spe
cific roles, but vary from region to region,” said
a press release. “The balance between Spanish
and Indian influence also varies.”
Some of the masks are the result of the mix
ing of cultures that occurred when the Spanish
began to occupy Mexico.
The four groups of dances give evidence to
this — showing the influence of the Spaniards on
the existing Aztec culture of the early region.
This influence carries on into the 20th centu
ry with these works.
“It is fascinating to see how different people
approach the making of the mask,” Hastedt said.
“Part of the wisdom is to bring in as wide a
variety as possible. This year, we are featuring
craft-orientated arts,” Hastedt said.
“We’re so close to Mexico, this is a opportu
nity for us to learn about our partner country,”
Hastedt said.
Beverly Wagner, who works with the gallery,
said the museum has brought in a variety of ex
hibits including Ansel Adams and Norman Rock
well.
“However, we have never had one quite like
this,” Wagner said.
Wagner said so far, reactions to these works
have been positive.
“The feedback is that people have been im
pressed and have really enjoyed it,” said Wagn
er.
The exhibit is open to the public during the
gallery’s regular operating hours free of charge.
“We do offer tours for anyone interested in a
more in-depth explanation,” Hastedt said. “They
can be booked by calling the gallery. But for
those tours, we take walk-ins as well.”
The gallery will begin “Art Tours on Tliesday”
to go along with this as well. Information for this
also is available by calling the gallery.
“This all really enhances the students’ experi
ence,” Hastedt said.
Today, masks are still used to exhibit all of
what these represent. They are scary, funny, but
most of all, true handmade representations of
Mexican culture, both past and present.
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