MABELLEArts Etobicoke

My time with MabelleArts

I entered the world of MabelleArts http://mabellearts.ca/at the beginning of mask-making Tuesday evening sessions. We were creating masks for the upcoming parade: Light in Mid Winter Festival. The large community hall at 41 Mabelle where the sessions took place had a barren feel, but Leah and her staff always transformed the space into creative place with tables inviting to various artistic activities – sketching, clay - shaping, paper mache-ing, painting, etc.

First, I observed. Some participants already knew each other and some were new to the program. There were several languages spoken around the tables and people helped each other with translations. I could see that no matter what people’s artistic experience or skill level, they were all committed to learn the art of mask-making from Leah, a professional artist. Many participants were claiming that they had no skills. However, week by week, their hands created incredible pieces of art. As we progressed, I started assisting Leah in encouraging people to see the beauty in their creations. We were also discussing the possibility of people wearing their masks in the parade. This, however, presented a big challenge for many participants.

During one particular session, Leah inspired a change in their attitude. She asked each participant to hold their mask so that others could clearly see it and could share what the mask invoked or represented for them. It was amazing to observe people’s reactions as they heard the richness of interpretation that their mask invited. Some started to thaw to the idea of wearing their masks during the parade. At that moment, I brought my theatre background into the mix to assist participants in imagining the full expressive possibility of their mask. I lead a theatre session. Alexandra, also a theatre artist, helped me to demonstrate how masks could express themselves through body postures and movement. During the session, participants experimented with body expressions, movement, and costumes. Everyone was amazed by the power of the masks and laughed at the mask expressions. The participants’ enjoyment of playing with the masks is visible on the pictures that Leah took from the session.

At the time of the Light in Mid-Winter Festival, I was honoured to become a Bread Bearer mask. It was a remarkable experience for me to travel with the parade from the park at Mabelle, through the streets of Etobicoke into Montgomery Inn http://www.montgomerysinn.com/. The lanterns, the masks and the costumes transformed the Dundas West Street and its intersection with Islington into magic places where people met, played, talked, laughed, and ate together. I especially felt the power of the festival in the energy in the Montgomery Inn, which was bursting in seems with people and buzzing like a bee hive as we all came there to warm up and to talk about life and art; all the while sharing the human need celebration.

I am positive that the Mid-Winter Festival has been born as a full community art event and will continue to draw participants from all walks of life, skills, and backgrounds. I cherish the motivation to fully engage in community arts as a theatre artist that MabelleArts inspired in me through its programming, focus on community participation, and adherence to artistic excellence and beauty.