50 New Masks for Theatre Education!
We are raising $5,000 to create 50 brand new original Balinese masks for education, healing, and performance!!
These masks will be created from original designs, hand-carved out of wood by a Balinese Brahmin, blessed by a Hindu High Priest, and shipped safely back to Manhattan NY to be used immediately by Theatre students and therapeutic patrons all over New York City and the world over!
My name is Akil Apollo Davis.
I am a Theatre Professor, Performing Artist, and Founder of the transdisciplinary performance collective LOUDSOL.
I teach Mask Work + Art Aesthetic at universities, acting studios, theatres, and places of education all around the world. It is for the masks, the power of their performance, and education that we (LOUDSOL) have begun this fundraiser!
WHY THIS FUNDRAISER??
The Goal of this fundraiser is to expand and support our access to education and healing.
As things stand now, we have 2 big problems...
which have persisted for nearly 8 years!
First, As the demand for workshops and training increases, more and more often we find ourselves with large numbers of participants and nowhere near enough Masks!
*****Students have to wait for up to 30 minutes only to be able to use the mask for a mere 8 minutes because of time constrictions and number of masks*****
While the impact is still felt, it is unfortunate that so many eager participants cannot go deeper, further, and longer in the work.
The other major problem is that there are only 3 people in the whole world who teach this kind of Mask work.
I am the only one in the U.S..
I, unfortunately, have been able to acquire only a very few mask types so far. While powerful and functional, the body of masks is quite small.
Evolution requires the ability to choose from options. With more options the work will evolve and grow.
If we can create more masks we can work in many more dimensions of education, experience, transformation, and healing.
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50 new masks will provide opportunities for many more people to experience the Masks in abundance, with more time, greater impacts, and more worlds to explore!
Once completed, These masks will go directly into students' hands (faces..?) for immediate use in their education.
There is enough time left to get them here before the end of the spring semester- students will be able to work with them before moving on to the next year!!
…so we want move with urgency!!
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ARE YOU READY ON TO FINALLY DISCOVER....
THE MASK MAKING PROCESS
and why it will cost $5,000...?
The Masks will be carved by the Mask making Brahmin Ida Bagus Alit, A Hindu Priest of high caste, who has worked with Per for over 20 years.
The wood the comes from the Pule Tree (Poo-lee)- a sacred tree that is only used for masks and spiritual objects. The Mask maker sits on a small chair only a few inches from the ground, holds the wood with his feet and cuts it with his hands.
After the carving, over 40 coats of paint are applied to give it it’s brilliant color and texture.
After the carving and painting, the Masks are required, by Balinese tradition, to be put through a cleansing ceremony at a special temple; complete with flowers, water, fire, incense, bells, chanting, meditation, and offerings- all done by a High Priest (Different and Higher than the Mask Maker)
We go to a tailor to have individual protective bags for the masks made to distinguish them and give them a good home.
Finally we pack them down with extensive security so that they can survive the long trip to the other side of the planet, and we ship them from Bali to Brookyln
Why Masks?
The Masks aid in transformation by speaking to the wearer’s body. Oddly enough, the Masks do not require the wearer to KNOW what the mask on their face is- they still DO what the mask is. It is because the body can read the image in the mask and wants to transform. This not only has powerful artistic results, but healing results as well.
To create 50 brand new original masks in Bali and shipped to the States is QUITE A TALL ORDER…
Doing this alone would take YEARS...
But with your help we can manifest this long and beautiful process with ease and haste! We will be able to see the fruits of our labor as it develops via photos and updates.
We are aiming to raise $5,000 by Mid March so that the masks can arrive by April.
...Should we PASS THAT GOAL!...the money will go directly into making MORE of the Masks we need!
When the Masks arrive there will be many workshops ready for you to come to and experience them.
It is worth every inch and every penny because of the educational value.
It is worth it for the unique artistic impact. It is
worth it for the cultural effect it will have.
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MASKS TO BE MADE
ARCHETYPES
Queen
Martyr
Seducer
Fool
Virgin
Orphan
Coward
Hero
Loser
Whore
Witch
Warrior
PLEASURABLE "YES" (7): Strengthening and healing the Pleasure center in the body that says “Yes”. One of the most abundant natural resources in the human experience, “Pleasure” is in everything (pleasure to breath, pleasure to laugh, to sleep, to sit in silence, to be, to enjoy without shame) yet, it is one of most atrophied centers in our bodies. This is because our culture has trained us that pleasure is not only shameful, but to have pleasure you must pay in some way or another…Neither of these are true. Pleasure is beautiful, and pleasure is free.
“The Pleasurable Yes is what we say to the fruits of our gardens, the flowers and vegetables, by giving them water, attention and Sun light..”
PLEASURABLE "NO" (7): Strengthening and Healing the Pleasure center in the body that says “No”. No is the shortest sentence in the English language, and one of the strongest. Our culture has such an aversion to this word that we have learned to do, say, allow, and even agree to things we don’t truly want. This quickly takes us out of our truth and disempowers our ability to manifest harmony in our lives. We need the word "No" for when enough is enough, when we don’t want to be disturbed, when, or even when we don't want to stop- we need no for people who drain our energy and happiness with negativity. We need "No" for balance.
“The Pleasurable No is what we say to the weed growing in our tomatoes…we do not ‘om' at the weed; nor do we ignore it in hopes it will go away at some point…we get good at pulling weeds out;-)”
HISTORICAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN FIGURES
Eartha Kit
Cab Calloway
Katherine Dunham
Fats Waller
Josephine Baker
Hatshepsut
Ruby Dee
Nat King Cole
and more including ...Freddie Mercury
