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Artist Statement |
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I am drawn to mask-making like the tide follows the moon: the pull is irresistible! Masks are unique objects that hold a power quite beyond the artistic creation itself. Each mask gestates and is birthed as if it were a child, each with it’s own personality and presence. As the eyes are the windows into the soul, masks create the illusion of something beyond the physical. The possibility of contact with the world of spirit, and the intangible mysterious realms of the other side is made tangible. The piece is transformed into whatever the wearer and viewer interpret. Thus the creation takes on a life of its own as it transcends the boundaries of a mere physical object. The mysterious quality of masks, coupled with the pure joy of fabricating, has led me down a life-long path of artistic creation. Doing the work is like riding the crest of a wave with no coastline in sight. It can be exhilarating, frightening, joyful, painful and uplifting at the same time. This path continues to offer uplifting experiences through the application of new and varied materials, and the ceaseless quest for self realization, and the exploration of the multidimensional self. With this in mind the fire of life is breathed into each art mask as it is created. May the creative force behind the work spark a sense of recognition and inspiration, mirroring to the viewer and wearer the creative force that flows through us all. Debra Mae Fisher |
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Biography |
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I
love making things, and have since I was young. By the time I was a
teenager I was selling my sculpted candles, macramé tapestry, fiber
sculpture and jewelry at shops and fairs. My love of mask making started in 1978, when I made a set of
macramé witches mask for a theater production in Denver. The excitement
of seeing the masks come alive and the reaction of the audience inspired
a life long passion for mask making that continues today. In 1984 I was hired by the Oregon Shakespearean Festival as a costume props artisan; which opened many doors and provided an opportunity to grow as an artist and expand my understanding of tools and materials. In addition to the Festival, I’ve worked for the Portland Center for Performing Arts, an accessories design shop, apprenticed as a cobbler, and held the position as resident costumer for Central Oregon Community College for thirteen years.
In 1991 I began teaching masks, costumes and jewelry for the Arts in
Education Program; which allowed me to refine my personal techniques
while sharing my passion with thousands of eager students. This led to
the creation of some collaborative and innovative youth arts programs,
such as the Arts of Passage, funded by the Oregon Arts Commission and
most recently The MAD (making a difference) Teen Theater, a peer
education group that performs in public schools and addresses teen issues through
fun and creative theater methods. I work with a variety of materials, including: leather, foam, fabric, latex, sheet metal and paper. I enjoy the diversity and challenges each material brings to a design. Most of my work has been made of paper, I use a recycled pulp paper that lends itself to a variety of mache’ and construction techniques. I enjoy the materials flexibility and the strong yet lightweight finished product
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