Category: Collaboration

Artist Q&A Added!

Posted on by tony in Collaboration, Creation Process, exhibits, Updates

November started out strong! Reveal/Conceal, my retrospective exhibit of 19 years of theatre masks opened alongside A Universal Feeling, the international collaboration I’ve been developing over the past two years, at the beginning of the month.

It was a really special night to share with the public—as well as some collaborators—and to have conversations about the work they were seeing.

Read the review here

Sooooooooo, I’m happy to announce that there will be another opportunity for you to see the work, hear about the process, and ask any questions you may have.

6:30pm Friday, December 6
Chehalem Cultural Center
415 E Sheridan St, Newberg, OR 97132

  • Photo: Charlie Foster
  • Photo: Michael Brooks
  • Photo: Charlie Foster
  • Photo: Michael Brooks
  • Photo: Charlie Foster
  • Photo: Michael Brooks

Project Update 2: A Universal Feeling

Posted on by tony in Collaboration, exhibits, Uncategorized

After a 18 months of planning and working, you can finally come see the first showing of A Universal Feeling! The exhibition opens as a part of my larger exhibit, Reveal/Conceal: The Transformative Masks of Tony Fuemmeler.

  • 5:00–8:00 pm, Friday, November 8
  • Grand Lobby,  Chehalem Cultural Center  (415 E Sheridan St, Newberg, OR)

There will be live, masked-musicians, masked performers and the opportunity to try on some masks. You can also meet some of my local collaborators for Universal Feeling, AND some other mask-makers!

That’s right— the Chehalem Cultural Center will also feature a group exhibit of even more mask makers: Rachel Mulder, Nathan Tanner, Faerin Millington, Kris Musser!

This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Wine and light refreshments provided. See the FB Event Page Here.

The exhibition will run from November 5–January 3.

I’ve included a few of my masks here, as well as some mashups of the work of my collaborators. Come see the show to see the complete works!

Volunteers and Chewed paper

Posted on by tony in Collaboration, Creation Process, Volunteering

I’m looking for friendly volunteers who have an interest in making and a sensitivity to detail — and– who think it would be fun to do some papier-mâché in community with others. You’ll be helping make copies of some emotion masks for an upcoming art installation later this year.

Papier-Mâché Volunteer Hours

Seeking 3 to 4 hour commitment. Most days are 6 person limit.

Click –> here <– to claim a time!

Tuesday, March 26…………1-5 or 6-10
Thursday, March 28……….1-5 or 6-10
Saturday, March 30………..All Day

Sunday, March 31…………….12-4
Wednesday, April 3………….1-5 or 6-10
Friday, April 5…………………..All day
Saturday, April 6………………All day — FULL

Sunday, April 7………………….1-6 — FULL
Monday, April 8………………..1-9:30
Wednesday, April 10………..All day

Monday, April 15……………..5-9:30
Tuesday, April 16……………………..9-9 –FULL
Friday, April 19………………..9-6:30
Saturday, April 20…………………2:30-6:30
Sunday, April 21………….1-9

Friday, April 26…………….9-9
Saturday, April 27…………9-6
Sunday, April 28……………1-9

Tuesday, April 30………….9-9

ADDED DATE! Saturday, May 11………….9-6

Papier–mâché (1753) from French papier–mâché, literally “chewed paper,” from Old French papier “paper” + mâché “compressed, mashed”, from past participle of mâcher, literally “to chew,” from Late Latin masticare.

  • FYI: I don’t literally chew the paper

Exhibits and puppets and spring—oh my!

Posted on by tony in Collaboration, Creation Process, Daily Sights, exhibits, Puppets, Updates

My first large exhibition!

About a year ago, I was approached to make an exhibit of my work… and it’s happening! Spanning the last 19 years of making masks, the exhibit Reveal / Conceal: The Transformative Masks of Tony Fuemmeler runs November 5 2019–January 3, 2020 at the Parrish Gallery, Chehalem Cultural Center. Stay tuned for information about the opening reception.

The Chehalem Cultural Center

(mask) x (62) = ?

As I was considering the invitation I thought, this is the perfect time to do a project I have been dreaming about for years: a series of mask collaborations with other artists on a compelling theme…and it’s happening!

Sixty-two artists from around the world will be participating!

The installation is called A Universal Feeling, and explores how something we all share can manifest very differently in our individual lives. I am so excited to be working on this project, and with so many (!!) amazing collaborators.

Learn more about the collaboration here.

It is nearly impossible to do without the support of individuals and institutions alike. I’m proud to announce that I have been awarded a Project Grant from the Yamhill County Cultural Coalition for the show at the Chehalem Cultural Center, and ALSO a project grant from Regional Arts & Culture Council to extend the showing of the installation to Portland in 2020.

…but you promised puppets.

And I deliver!

I coached the puppets for world premiere of WOLF PLAY by Hansol Jung at Artists Repertory Theatre. The show just opened, so you have plenty of time to catch this amazing show.

  • A break from tech rehearsals
  • Chris Larkin puppeteering in rehearsal

What made it extra special is using the puppet made by Matt Acheson, who I met nearly 20 years ago at the start of my career! This puppet is great—not only is it extremely well-built and balanced, but also the design allows the audience so much room to imagine. One audience member mentioned to me that they “…never expected to be so attached and invested to a puppet!” That feels like a job well done to me. 🙂

Tickets available here.

Spring

Post script: Thanks also to the Oregon Community Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust, who support this installation via the YCCC!

Big Easy Awards

Posted on by tony in Collaboration, Mask Images, New Orleans, Shows

The Spider Queen wins Best Costumes in this year’s Big Easy Awards! 

This fantastical show featured 17 of my masks, amazing garments by costume designer Hope Bennett, and five puppet characters designed by Kenneth Thompson working in unison to bring  a new world to life! The NOLA Project earned two other accolades on The Spider Queen—Best Original Work of Theatre (playwrights James Bartelle & Alex Martinez Wallace) and Best Actress in a Play (Becca Chapman).

Playwright James Bartelle, Costume Designer Hope Bennett, Playwright Alex Martinez Wallace, Director Jon Greene, and Puppet Designer Kenneth Thompson. Photo: Jose L. Garcia, courtesy of Gambit Weekly.

Teamwork, y’all.

It takes a special group of people to collaborate well, and the amazing director, Jon Greene know it well. We first met at my booth in the Mardi Gras Market in 2016. A little less than a year later, we began talking about how to depict classic fantasy creatures and to create characters no one had ever seen.

Masks can change the way a body moves.. so if it’s not a human body… how will it be costumed? how will human actors mix with puppet actors?  Some doodles, designer discussions, and do-overs later, we were on our way.

Thanks as well to the actors who did all the (hot, sweaty) work to bring this show to life in NOMA’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden.

 

 

Thanks New Orleans!

 

The Mask Maker

Posted on by tony in Collaboration, Creation Process, Mask Images

I’ve often found that people aren’t quite sure what I mean when I say I’m a mask maker. Chris Hatcher of Field Guide Films gives a terrific peek behind the curtains in this video.

[vimeo 215415561 w=640 h=360]

The Mask Maker from Chris Hatcher on Vimeo.

The masks I’m making here are for the production of The Spider Queen by The NOLA Project, directed by Jon Greene. This original play was inspired in part by the sculpture of a spider by Louise Bourgeois  in NOMA’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden, where the play will be performed in May 2017.

spider1995
Louise Bourgeois, Spider, 1995, bronze; Besthoff Sculpture Garden, New Orleans. PHOTO: Celan Bouillet

 

Collaboration: Canby HS Dance Team

Posted on by tony in Collaboration, Creation Process, Faces in Art, Youth

Hi! It’s been awhile. But for great reasons! I’ve been working on lots of projects in the last few months. Here’s a little about one of them.

The Project

Canby High has a team of about 25 dancers who participate in large dance competitions around the region. The dances are performed on a large gymnasium floor, with some sort of scenery specific to the concept of the piece. They have been working with choreographer James Healey for the past few years, and have made some stunning work. This last October, we began a conversation about masks they could wear… on the backs of their heads.

The Process

The concept had to do with shifting perception and multiple ways of seeing. So my goal was to conceive of a design that would come alive on the performer with all of the limbs moving slightly differently to how we are accustomed.

James shared some images and we talked about the feeling the masks should have. I sculpted with these emotions in mind, and also tried to capture the faces in a series of planes, slightly abstracting them.

We knew the rest of the design would be in blacks, grays, and whites, in keeping the conceptual element of one way vs. many ways. It was decided that I would form the masks, and the arts students at Canby would paint them using my advice.

 

The Performances

The dancers came into my studio early in the process to determine how the masks would need to be arranged to carry out the choreography. They were so much fun! And they were very excited about the  masks… which I think you can see in some of the photos below.

 

State Champs
OSAA State Dance/Drill Champions

Here are some videos of the final performances!

View 1

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