“Higher Ground”

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I wanted my design to accentuate rather than compete with the shape of this year's elongated mask form. I decided to use contour lines as seen on a topographical map. To create the lines, I submerged the mask in varying depths of water and drew lines where the surface intersected with the mask form. Then I painted each level a different color. Once finished painting the mask strata, I added a base with topography of its own. Pizza boxes, a yellow yard sign, daily contact lens containers and other plastic items were used in the making of my mask.

- Gale Whitman, 2019 Mask Statement