Who is that Mask Man?

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 November -0001 16:00

EAFA Gallery at the Seattle Design Center is very pleased to have local artist and mask maker Roger Wheeler demonstrate his mask making techniques on Wednesday, October 5th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during ArtsCrush Week. Visit the gallery to see his wall of masks and then get inspired for your own Halloween creations as you watch him in action. This event is free and open to the public and will be held at the Plaza Building Main Floor Stage.

Roger Wheeler is a native of the Pacific Northwest and has been exhibiting his impressive body of work since 1969. His masks have been featured internationally as well as locally, including exhibits at the Bellevue Art Museum and Seattle Public Library. Wheeler is a founding member of the Fremont Arts Council and is active with the Fremont Fair, the Solstice Parade, Oktoberfest, and Trolloween. Wheeler is a member of Fremont's Flying Dreams Collective, which recently returned from Taiwan where they taught mask making and parading. They also produced a play that was co-written by Wheeler.

Originally a painter, Wheeler’s focus for the last ten years has been on sculpture, and in particular, masks. Now, much of his time is spent making masks for theater, ballet, parades, and gallery exhibits. He has developed techniques for making papier mache look like almost anything. He has cast objects such as horns, antlers, and shells using papier mache. He can create textures that look like carved stone. Sometimes his masks resemble wearable frescos.

Inspired by mythology and legends, Wheeler’s masks occasionally disturb. "I think people have an inherent fear of masks because they can't see the real person underneath. A mask will hide your face while revealing something about yourself at the same time."

Wheeler currently resides at the Toshiro-Kaplan Artist Lofts where he is a working/teaching artist. His work is represented by ArtFX Gallery in Seattle and Gargoyles Statuary in Seattle’s University District. For more information on Roger Wheeler visit his website at www.maskmadness.com.