Masks on masks

In the past 25 years, I’ve collected about 50 masks from six continents.

The first mask cost me about $10 in Kenya in 1995, while my brother splurged on a $40 one. As we continued collecting, our unofficial guidelines became that a mask had to be bought in the country of origin and cost less than $40. However, I quickly blew past that second stipulation as I gathered masks of camel bone, gourd, ceramic, turtle shell, bamboo, seashells, feathers, fused sand, blown glass, woven cloth and various woods.

Papua New Guinea and Africa are well-known treasure troves for masks, but I also found masks in unexpected places such as Romania and Mauritius.

Recently confined by COVID fears and bored, I was staring at the masks on my walls and thought, “Why not have some fun with this?” So I put COVID masks on the masks.

Each mask has its own story, and this “masks on masks” project was a great way to revive many wonderful travel memories.

DONNA JUDD
Fullerton, CA