Editor's pick: ‘Making Myths’

Masks and sculptures at the new CAS show explore concepts of creation

WHEN: Saturday, August 9 through Sunday, September 21. Opening reception and artists’ talk on August 9 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., Sunday from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m., or by appointment.

WHERE: Catskill Art Society, Livingston Manor, NY

COST: Free

CONTACT: 845/436-4227

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — Starting on Saturday, August 9, the Catskill Arts Society will present “Making Myths,” a shared exhibition of works that explore the concepts of creation and recreation through text and sculpture by mask-maker Lynne S. Mayocole and sculptor Daina Shobrys. The show, appearing in Gallery One and the Main Hall, will feature over 20 masks by Mayocole and 366 paper mache goddesses by Shobrys.

Mayocole’s masks are created from a plaster mold made directly over her face, which is then pressed with clay, removed and altered to form images of herself as different personae. Shobrys has recreated goddesses from 100-25,000 BC made from shredded U.S. currency and then cast in molds. Her goddesses are displayed in rows of 10 down and 36 across and cover a five-by-12-foot wall of the gallery.

Mayocole grew up with sculpture. Both her mother and godmother had studied with Archipenko, and the results were all around her. She has worked in a variety of materials from stone carving to cast resin to, currently, ceramics. She has exhibited most recently at Uma/Niche Gallery (New York City), South Broadway Cultural Center (Albuquerque) and Galeria National (San Jose).

Shobrys is a sculptor who has spent summers and weekends in the wilds of Acidalia for the last 19 years. She discovered that many sculptures of goddesses as old as 25,000 years have survived but been dismissed because they are little. Taking up the idea that there is power in large numbers, she has made 366 sculptural copies of figures from all over the world out of papier mache.

There will be an artists’ talk at the opening reception, which will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on August 9, with both artists in conversation with CAS Executive Director Kathryn Tufano. A question and answer period will be held immediately following.

Light refreshments will be served.