A Balinese mask starts as a tree. The steps to making a mask: sawing the wood, axeing the block, chisel work to rough in the features, modeling with curved and straight knives, sanding, painting.
David Knezz begins axe work on the block. Above right, the wood at each step of the way, from a demonstration by carver I.B. Anom.
At right is our carving teacher, I.K. Molog, finishing up a topeng tua, or 'old man' mask. Hair is applied to the mask with bamboo pegs, so that it can eventually be replaced without ruining the paint.
To read the full story of carving in the Balinese way, visit a great article by Ron Naverson, who was on our 2003 trip. http://www.siu.edu/%7Eperspect/03_fall/masks.html
Ron is professor of design at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
Dell'Arte Abroad students who are studying mask carving spend 4 - 6 hours, five days a week, for four weeks.
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