Mask Making

Today, Declan, his friend Reuben, and I went to check out the mask exhibit at the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, which is within walking distance of our flat (though Reuben thought it was a far walk, Declan and I are tourist-strong, meaning we can walk forever). The boys got to play with puppets and marionettes and make their own masks. The owners were super-nice and spent lots of time telling us about how they started this place back in the 1980s and how to make masks using traditional tools and methods.

Declan's mask

Declan and Reuben's masks and the Mad Hatter giant-sized puppet

The exhibit included masks from around the world, including wooden Japanese Noh masks, leather Italian commedia dell'arte masks, and replicas of Greek comedy masks.

My favorite!

Reuben's favorite -- he liked the teeth.

Declan's fave -- enjoyed the picking of the nose with the tongue.
One we all liked -- some crazy eyebrows! I think they might have inspired the eyebrows on Declan's mask.

A little off the beaten track and well worth a visit!