Friday, October 17, 2014

Mask Master Sergio Boldrin at Castle in the Air




If you’ve visited Castle in the Air recently, you’ve no doubt noticed the fanciful, over-the- top masks that are part of our transformation into a Venetian wonderland. The masks are the creations of Sergio Boldrin, and they are at once whimsical and striking.

Sergio’s creations have been praised worldwide, from his hometown of Venice to features in National Geographic and the New York Times. Their most famous appearance was in the secret society scenes in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut.

I had the chance to meet Sergio in his Venice shop earlier this year. It was almost hard to pick him out—there were faces everywhere.

He very graciously showed me how he makes his masks, step-by-step in the traditional manner. Would you like a peek into his workshop as well? Take a look at this video, which shows Sergio and his team creating a mask, from an original clay sculpture to the finished, brightly painted piece perfect for wearing to Carnival or any masked ball.

Come meet Sergio and hear him speak about his life as a traditional artisan at Castle in the Air on Tuesday, October 28. The event is free and will feature refreshments and live entertainment. Masquerade costumes encouraged!

Master Mask Artisan Sergio Boldrin
Tuesday, October 28, 5:30-7:30pm
Castle in the Air
1805 Fourth Street, Berkeley
For more information: (510)204-9801

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I LOVED the video - beautiful and evocative. Masks have so much potential for drama, art, sexuality, everything!