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Opening September 15th!

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La Raza Galería Posada announces the U.S. premiere of Sacred and Shared: The Larry Hoover Collection of Mexican Ritual Masks. From September 15-December 31, 2009, the exhibition will feature over thirty masks from Hoover’s private collection of 150 ritual masks from all across Mexico. The masks represent eleven states and ten different ethnic groups, from the northwestern state of Sonora to Chiapas in the south. Public programs held during the exhibit will include workshops and demonstrations by master mask makers from Mexico, documentary films, lectures, and other culturally significant and educational programming. A free grand opening celebration is set for Tuesday, September 15 from 5 PM-9PM in conjunction with Mexican Independence Day.

The masks chosen by Hoover and curator Dr. Joyce Bishop, Professor of Cultural Anthropology at California State University-Sacramento, come from his travels to both remote villages and larger towns. They include “realistic” human and animal faces, as well as a variety of fantastical visages carved of hardwood with carefully painted or lacquered features. A few are unpainted wood. Tree gourds, wax, cured leather, uncured hide, molded wire mesh, or papier maché are also used.  Many of the masks sport elaborate headdresses made of vegetable fibers, animal hair, feathers, or molded tin along with bright ribbons, tinsel, and metallic paper.  Devil figures make use of cow or goat horns and teeth. Sizes vary from very small masks worn on top of head-wrappings which disguise the wearer to extremely large, heavy masks which cover the entire head of the masker. Bishop noted that “religious and historic dramas are known in Mexico as danzas (highly stylized ritual dances.) Our exhibit will include three fully costumed figures representing two danzas in the state of Guerrero.” Today, most mask makers earn their living as carpenters, creating masks for ritual use in their local communities and selling, loaning, or gifting their masks.
According to Bishop, “the exhibit shows the extraordinary richness of traditional Mexican ceremonial life in the late 20th and early 21st century. It recognizes the mask as an art form, as well as the socio-historical context of mask use in Mexico, and the recent change in mask creation as mask-makers respond to collectors, tourists, and Mexican governmental agencies. It is our hope that this exhibit will provide a small window into the complexity of contemporary Mexican culture and society.”

Private collector Larry Hoover has been a Sacramento resident since 1973.  His background as a teacher, organizer and mediation specialist in both higher education and public employment provide a compelling backdrop to his 30 year passion for travelling and collecting all across Mexico. “We named this exhibition “Sacred and Shared” because it is an opportunity to understand the power of generations of community as played out in art and ceremony. Children are taught their own history with masks and the accompanying danzas. The fabric of community and family is woven this way. For that reason, I’m very happy to bring my collection to La Raza Galeria Posada.”

The two masks shown in the exhibition  poster are “Parachico de los Parachios” from Chiapas, made of hardwood with pink lacquer, and festive headdress from ixtle fiber, and the contrasting “Negrito de La Pastorela” from the Sierra Tarascan region from the state of Michoacán. It is hardwood painted black with a large headdress of hammered tin and tinsel, metallic paper, ribbons and mirror.

Specially designed cases built by architect/carpenter Brian Collett will protect the delicate masks. Some installations will allow full 360 degree viewing.

Mexico Consul General Carlos González-Gutiérrez stated, “I am so pleased that Northern Californians, particularly students and their teachers, will have this wonderful opportunity to see an important collection of our traditional masks, and gain a greater understanding of the wealth and richness of Mexican art and culture.”

Marie Acosta, La Raza Galería Posada Executive Director said, “We are honored to host this remarkable exhibition. Our numerous public programs will complete the experience. For a place where young and old come together to share stories and build community, the U.S. premiere exhibit of Sacred and Shared is in a perfect home. “

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