Photograph by Dai Sugano
Saratogan Judith Marshall exhibits masks in the 'Masquerade' exhibit now at Aegis Gallery.
Aegis Gallery puts on a masquerade
Show features an artistic look at mask themes
By Shari Kaplan
Throughout history, masks have served many purposes, and Aegis Gallery's latest exhibit, "Masquerade," offers an artistic look at these themes through Aug. 29 The show features mixed-media paintings by Judith Marshall and Yoju, and jewelry and enamel sculpture fans by Sandra Ellen "Sandelle" Bradshaw.
Saratogan Marshall, who holds a bachelor's of fine arts degree, says she was excited to participate in this show because she has incorporated masks as façades into her artwork for some time now. She also enjoys photographing architecture and graffiti. Originally an interior designer, Marshall became interested in painting architecture and then puppets, which later led to masks. These areas all share the theme of ornamentation and false fronts that convey different messages to the viewer. "In any kind of creative endeavor, one idea often leads to another," she says.
"The masquerade theme symbolizes the façades and objects the individual uses to hide behind. Historically, masks were worn in many cultures to tell myths and stories while hiding the identity of the wearer," she explains of the exhibit. "Fans were [also] objects of communication. Both fans and masks were worn to masque balls at times of celebration."
Marshall's contribution includes a trio of monotypes--two colored, one black-and-white--that feature the same mask-like face surrounded by different background elements. There's also "Future Past," a melange of faces, masks and ghostly images that look like they came from the dusty pages of a Middle Ages or Renaissance-era book. Her largest work is "I Always Take the Weekend Off," an installation of small, unframed paintings that incorporate abstract faces including mythological stories and indigenous beliefs and images both festive and ominous.
Sandelle hand-crafts fanciful fans with pretty scenes using enamels accented with gold and silver foil, copper scouring pad material, brass and glass. Although the fans are too fragile to use, their frilly shape leads viewers to imagine a lady of past centuries demurely hiding behind a fluttering fan. Sandelle also fashions plique-à-jour earrings and necklaces. Sandelle likens this unique form of enameling (whose name translates to "braid that lets in daylight") to backless cloisonné.
Yoju's vibrant paintings are mostly mixed-media on rice or other types of paper. Many feature composite faces that blend humans and cats. Felines are a favorite motif of hers and the subject of her November 1998 Aegis exhibit, Yoju's Cats. Among her other paintings are the abstract "Wine Maker," which combines a face, a fish and a grape surrounding a wine glass; and "Portrait of Planet," a cross between a patchwork quilt, a tribal mask and the earth as seen from space.
Aegis Gallery is at 14531 Big Basin Way, Unit 2. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
