Unmasking Identities

Students in a fifth-grade class at Queen Anne Place Elementary School in Los Angeles unveiled a lot about themselves in a mask-making project.

“The primary benefit of mask-making is building self-esteem,� teacher Jean Ekstein said. “In the process . . . the children got an opportunity to know themselves better and accept themselves as they are, along with their special features and differences.�

The papier-mache mask project began with the children making impressions of their faces, protected by a coat of Vaseline, with newspaper and starch. When the impressions dried--with the help of a hair dryer--they were carefully lifted off the children’s faces and taped onto balloons with paper necks.

The mask construction process used newspaper, starch, book-binding tape and tempera and spray paints. Ear impressions were made by fitting starch-dipped tissue paper around the ear. Strips of paper formed the hair--curled strips for curly hair and small wet bits for Afro and corn-row styles.

After applying a coat of white primer paint, the children painted the masks into their likenesses. A protective coat of liquid plastic was the finishing touch.

“I feel very happy with the work I did,� said Sonia Monzon, 12. “I have never done a project like this. I truly like to see what we did with newspaper and paint. I feel everyone did a good job, and I am proud of it.�

Franklin Alumit, 11, was pleased with his work, although he did not think the mask resembled him. Felipe Flores, 12, looked upon his handiwork “like my twin brother.�

The students will receive more than self-satisfaction from the project. The masks, in an exhibit titled “My Mask Is Me,� are on display at the downtown Los Angeles Children’s Museum through July 30.