The Mask Dancer is a 3 minute video made by 9th grader Maile Resta. Maile was given a school project to make a 3 minuet video of someone she knew who was interesting. She visited me at the studio. We talked about the spirit of the mask, the essence of mask dance, passion of the arts, and this is what she made. Leap Year, Feb 29th, 2012.

Last month (May 20, 2011) Lyle  Cashulin came to my studio and interviewed me for an article in the Pt Reyes Light. The article was about my friend Sophia Marzocchi’s upcoming mask performance and my influence on her younger years with mask’s.  Lyle and I talked and he took 13 pages of notes which he edited down to 10 paragraphs.  He did such an excelent job, I am including the text from the article about my work with masks.  If you would like to read the whole article click the link at end of this post.

Lyle wrote: Sanchez, who has spent decades making masks and performing mask dances and rituals of his own creation, is excited for Marzocchi’s Bolinas debut. “I’ve known Sophia since she was a baby. She saw a lot of these mask performances I was involved in,” he said. “You never know who’s going to get the spark; the fire—but Sophia saw the beauty of the masks.”

For Sanchez, making masks is a spiritual process that delves beyond his raw materials of bronze, steel, wood pulp and paint. “The most important thing is to capture the spirit of the mask,” he said. “That’s the true essence of mask making. When you create a mask, the art lies in capturing its character or spirit.”

All of his masks embody a spirit and carry their own mythologies.  “How can I sculpt something if I don’t have a story to lead me through? If I don’t have a story to lead me through it, the mask will get lost in shape and form,” he said, adding that he avoids sketching ideas for masks, preferring to let the mask’s “spirit” materialize itself through his hands. In fact, Sanchez now uses the term “spirit faces” to describe his art.

One of his masks is of a shapeshifter, an androgynous face that seems to transform from human to beast as it is examined in different light. Another is a blue crescent moon with mischievous eyes and a wicked smile. The one Marzocchi will use in Unmasked is a roughly textured face that exudes the very essence of grief and despair.

Sanchez incorporates ritual into his art, and said that the lack of spiritual ceremony in modern society has left a void. “We’ve lost rituals. Like the ceremony for young girls becoming women,” he said. “Now, there’s nothing. They’re just handed a box of tampons. There’s no ceremony to let them know what’s happening, and older women sitting around [helping them through].”

One of his rituals was the Moon Burning Ceremony that he performed with his then-15-year-old daughter, Rosemary. Every full moon, Sanchez and his daughter would carry a beautiful moon mask and burn it on the beach over a small fire. The flames would eventually blacken and engulf the mask’s serene expression, symbolizing the cycle of life and rebirth. “The Moon Burning was a kind of way to create a new mythology; something people have done for thousands of years to evoke the mysteries of life.”

Sanchez said that though the mythologies of the ancient world are probably outmoded in modern society, their elemental wisdom is timeless.
“You’re working with archetypal energies that are thousands of years old,” he said. They’re not locked in time. You tap into these ancient energies, stories, myths like the moon, or fire, and new myths are born.… The old myths are really great, but they’re four, five, six thousand years old. We’re entering a new dynamic. This is what I feel as an artist.”

Sanchez recently celebrated the unveiling of several new pieces of art, including several masks and a large panel depicting a young woman beginning her transformation into a puma. He is also participating in this year’s Point Reyes Open Studios over Memorial Day Weekend, when visitors can see his art and converse with him.

Although Sanchez has branched into other mediums, such as the shapeshifting young woman panel, large sculptures and altars—such as the one that graces downtown Bolinas—masks maintain a central part of his work. “Whatever is going on, I always go back to the masks,” he said. “Masks have an incredible power that is rare, especially in our culture. They’re not really understood…and if anything, they’re pushed to the side.”

To read full article click here.

Life in the studio. Daily life includes sculpting in the morning, casting in the afternoon, conceptualizing in the evening.  In between there is garden work, cleaning the studio, organizing the office, developing a business plan.  The last thing is the most difficult, since I am an artist first, business person 25th.  Oh yes, there is also the time I stop art work to meet with someone that has come to the studio to see the newest sculptures.  Last week I de-molded a beautiful snake mask and someone came by and bought it 2 hours later.  Nice way to start the day.  If you are thinking of coming to visit, I look forward to your arrival.  Things are evolving here on many levels which always adds to the pleasure of your visit.

Things are exciting at the studio.  Have been casting large masks, some 24″ tall, in cold cast steel.  These will oxidize into a beautiful golden rust. As a master mask maker, having been sculpting masks for over 40 years in a variety of mediums, I am still moved by the profound presence a finished mask has.  Step gently into the world of masks and you will find a gateway into your inner world.

Thank you for looking at my web page.  Things are very busy now.  Here in West Marin we are having an open studio event the three days after Thanksgiving.  So, the studio is being transformed, new art is being displayed, all in all not enough time in a 24 hour day.  Such is life.  But Fall is beautiful, the garden beautiful and view of Inverness Ridge is, as always, stunningly beautiful.  That’s 3 beautiful’s in one sentence. Must be a good day.

Please stop in for a visit soon, I am here most weekend days.  Let us all revel in the beauty of life and soulful expressions of art.

It’s the end of May and we are having another storm.  Great for the garden, also helps me stay focused getting studio ready for Memorial Day Open Studio.  This Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, 11 to 5, in beautiful Pt Reyes Station.  Please stop in.  New Moons, New Art, New breath of inspiration.  Revel in the Beauty.

First Day of Spring, 2110.  Garden is in bloom, new outdoor sculptures are being made.  Please visit soon and see the newest art Works.

Hard at work preparing for this years open studio held 3 days after Thanksgiving.  Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11 to 5 P.M. November 27, 28, 29. Beautiful mythic and sacred art  await your arrival.  If it has been awhile since you visited my studio in beautiful Pt Reyes Station, please take this opportunity to do so.  Refreshments will be served.  Hope to see you.  Best to you all.

On July 11th I hosted an unveiling of my newest commissioned altar created for the garden of the Academy of Intuitive Medicine in Sausalito, CA.  The altar stands over4 feet tall and incorporates stained glass and mirrors in its design.

The opening of the ceremony was “Amazing Grace,” sung by 15 year old Zoe Moss.

I then spoke about the creation of the altar, my intentions in making it and, now, releasing it to go to its new home.

Noted harpist Cheryl Ann Fulton played a classical piece on her beautiful harp and   Marisa Power recited a poem.  Accompanied by the harp, I closed with a mask dance and unveiled the piece.

Three young “angels” then came in procession, bringing candles to illuminate the altar for the first time.

An enchanted time was had by all!

Ernesto’s Studio is proud to host a Book Launch Party for Michele Foutaine’s new book “Body of Work” Saturday, March 21st, 1:30 PM.  This free public event will feature Michele reading segments from  “Body of Work “… a collection of short stories spanning 30 years of inner and outer explorations, of exotic places, spiritual spaces, and soul searing embraces.  It’s Eat, Pray Love, meets Water for Elephants.

Please come to Michele Foutaine’s special book launch party in beautiful Pt Reyes Station.  Refreshemnts will be served.

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