MAKING A PAPER MACHE MASK

       We all want to be loved and everyone loves a monkey, so, why not become one?   Give into your simian side by constructing a paper mache monkey mask.  

 Let me show you how.

    It's relatively easy; you start by building a frame out of thick paper then cover it with wet paper strips.

  If you make enough of them you can turn your whole neighborhood into the next Planet of the Apes movie.
 
      I have been making paper mache masks for many years. I prefer the "paper band method" that allows you to construct an inexpensive full-face mask that will fit you perfectly. 
    To begin, gather the necessary materials, strips of poster paper, newspaper, white glue, and a small brown dog.  

      A pet isn't absolutely necessary but this take hours. A small brown dog make good company.


 MAKING THE FRAME

    Cut about dozen strips of paper about one-inch wide.  Most any paper will do but I prefer the heavier stuff, like poster paper.  Wrap the first one around the widest part of your head.  Don't make it too tight.  Mark and fasten it with glue or a staple. Having a helper is good but you can do it yourself using a mirror.

      Now continue building your mask frame by fastening a strip from to back-to-front with a 3-inch overlap.  Do the same from ear-to-ear.
How exciting, you're looking like a gladiator!

   Actually, at this point, you     could begin building a gladiator mask or that of any other creature.  You now ask yourself, "What paper bands do I need to add to fill out my basic form?

     In in this case I needed to study the shape monkey heads.   
When I made my skull mask ten years ago, I stared at many, many boney heads first. 

For the fish it was the same.






The Grove Guy at today's Climate Change Rally in Downtown Miami.
 
 









 After looking at a dozen images of our ancestors,  I decided to to be a chimpanzee.


  I asked myself, "How is a chimp's head different from my own?".   Noticing the protruding brow and jaw, I added a structure of strips accordingly.  I continued to glue more on to close the gaps between strips.   This would provide the most realistic results when I began to cover it with paper.



      We all need to breathe.  I planned for an open mouth and large nostrils to facilitate this.  Open areas also help keep the mask from becoming too hot.



 
                  Paper frame, another view








     When the paper band frame was complete I  put on my first layer of paper mache.  If you haven't done this before, watch a couple of YouTube instructional videos on the basic process.
There are dozens.  My friend Dan Reeder ("The Monster Man") has several on his website,    





 
First layer complete
www.gourmetpapermache.com .  The retired teacher has spent decades teaching folks how to make fantastic creatures from paper and glue.  His books got me started.
     

  You're going to need a lot of newspaper (copy paper, bags, and old cotton sheets work too) and for glue?  There a many choices including white glue (mixed with water), flour (same mix) or wallpaper paste.  Glue works best for me.

     The messiest art projects are the most fun and this one is "extremely fun".  Lay down two layers of newspaper to protect the Chippendale desk that you've chosen for your work place.

THE BASICS

    You begin by tearing newspapers into one-inch strips.  Dip them into the glue mixture getting rid of the excess glue as you pull each strip out, and begin laying them smoothly on the frame. 

 IMPORTANT:  Before you cover your hands with glue, put on some music.  Learn to enjoy the long, meditative aspects of this art form.  It's been around for ages. A local art museum features a 3000-year old paper mache mummy mask.  You may later want to make one of your own to see yourself into the afterlife.   
If you like that idea, put something in your will asking your loved ones to bury you in your monkey mask.  It's going to be that cool.

THE LONG PROCESS

    So there you are, building a monkey face one layer at a time.  Changing the directions of the strips regularly makes your creation much stronger, like the multi-directional frame of a house.       You can't build it all at once.  After applying the first or second layer, you need to let your mask dry.  This could take up to 24 hours.  It may take that long to get the glue off of your hands.
         The dog came in handy after all

     Okay, now that the water has evaporated,  try on your mask.  If it does not fit comfortably, now is the time to change it.  You may have to wear it for eternity.  Too tight?  Widen the main interior band.   
      You are ready now to begin laying on the second layer of wet paper strips.  Don't forget the "changing directions" part.

    Add enough layers to make the shell strong.  You can see weak ("thin") points by holding it up to light or by poking it a bit.  I add extra strips to these areas.

ADDING PAPER CLAY

     Now that you've covered your frame with enough paper strips you have the option to add
features and texture.  I do this with "paper clay".
You can buy dry bags of it at an art store or chop
up paper in a food processor (adding glue). 
   On this mask I added a bit to the brow, nose and created the hair texture.  It can take several days to dry.
    I made the teeth from "Sculpy" (translucent white) a moldable plastic clay sold in art stores.
   Now the "building" is over and it is time to paint.  I start with a thick coat of white paint to "prepare my canvas".
       (Note:  At this point I realized chimpanzees don't have mustaches.  I trimmed this one off)

PAINTING
      It's time to paint your canvas.  I tried it in
weird colors but didn't like the results.
     
 I bought a bottle of Monkey Brown for the second effort. 
In truth, us used a number of acrylic earth tones to to create the final version.  When the paint was dry I used thin-point sharpies (black and brown) to draw small details.  It was then given a clear coat to protect the surface.                  
                                            Viola

    
   That's it,  how I spent twenty hours making a mask out of paper and glue. 
                            __________

  If you'd like to see other masks that I've made see my 6-29-14 blog, "Paper Mache Masks".

  Note:  Some people have asked me to put together a workshop on mask making.  I may do this in a month or two.  If you're interested, write to me at bettermiami1@yahoo.com.

PEOPLE'S CLIMATE MARCH

         Today 310,000 people marched in New York City to protest an ever hotter planet.

  Miami took part in today's worldwide rallies, but this being Miami,  just 100 of us showed up, even though we'll be one for the first cities to submerge.

  Here are a few photos,

NewYork's rally today


 and in Miami,

EDWARD ALBEE'S SHOWER STOOL

       "For Sale: Edward Albee's non-slip, water-resistant shower stool".
  You won't be seeing that on Craigslist.  For now it sits forlorn, hidden in a far corner of our yard.



     
I knew America's greatest living playwright had a winter home somewhere in Coconut Grove.  When I stopped by a garage sale last fall I heard a man mention, "I built Albee's fence next door."  The conversation revealed that that the 86-year-old writer had sold the modest house and new owners were moving in.
     On a bike ride two days later Francesca and I happened to pass the Albee house.  Its trash pile included this sad piece of furniture we all hope we'll never need. I exclaimed, "It's Edward Albee's shower stool!" to which my wife added, "It's ugly, leave it alone".

   "It's his stool.  We just can't leave it there" I added. 
   We finally agreed that I would tote it home and store it where she'd never see it.
   I use it every now and then imagining that sitting where Albee sat might inspire me to be a better writer.  
   It hasn't happened and Francesca's right, it is is not an object of great beauty.
   I'll eventually do what the previous owner would probably want.  I'll give it to someone who'd enjoy a nice, warm shower sitting next to the spirit of Edward Albee.
    Could that be you?

HEDGE TRIMMING OUTLAWS

      Sunday started out nice enough, a few South Grove citizens gathering to clean up our bike path, the one that runs south along Main Highway.
  Most homeowners do a good job of keeping their hedges from encroaching on the path.
   








 
    You can't say that for the residents of  "The Moorings", the gated community on Biscayne Bay.  For years they have let their massive ficus hedge grow into the asphalt trail. Two years ago their greenery nearly blocked the popular thoroughfare until government workers cut it back.

    Tired of this, several neighbors gathered with the necessary hardware for some hedge trimming.  Francesca and I came upon them while riding the path yesterday morning.

    Only minutes into the trim-athon, a swarm of police descended upon these do-gooders.  The cops had been told that strangers had invaded The Moorings intent on destroying private property.
    
The officers were surprised to find it was just a few locals trimming branches blocking the public path.  

The head officer told the group, "There's an angry man over there saying he represents the Moorings residents. He wants me to put the four of you in handcuffs.  I think you're doing a good thing but that guy is about to pop".

    I went over to speak with the angry man who was loudly lecturing another officer.  I said, "Don't you want the bike path to be safe? Couldn't you have your gardeners trim the hedge?"

   He refused to answer saying the Moorings residents owned everything out to the street -including the bike path- and they could do whatever they want.

    Someone suggested that he could try having the hundreds of people who enjoy the bike path arrested for trespassing. 
    The angry man did not respond.

     Realizing that the police were not going to arrest the hedge trimmers, he 

asked the officers to get their names, adding, "I'm going to sue them all for destruction of property!"
      Not wanting to hear his spiel any longer, we left.
  
      Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail and the Mooring residents will finally make the Grove's bike path safe. 
It's there for everyone to enjoy, even if they're "trespassing".
                     _____

                               ("Trimcus interuptus", the Mooring's side of the path revealed)

 

GROVE CONCERT MANANA

     Coconut Grove is severely lacking in events and public places that bring our community together.
     The Barnacle -and its moonlight concert series- is the rare exception.  Tomorrow join your friends and neighbors for an evening of music on the bay.  Enjoy North Florida favorite, "Passerine", and their bluegrass harmonies. 
    Bring a blanket, a picnic basket, and throw in a few friends too.  The concert begins at 6:30.
    Here's the scoop from the park's website:

Our Website  Contact Us   The Barnacle Under Moonlight Concert featuring   Bring a picnic, blanket and lawn chairs to The Barnacle for a memorable evening of folk music featuring Passerine-"Band of the Year" at the Deland Original Music Festival in 2012 and one of SRQ Magazine's "Best of the Local Bands." Passerine's distinctive sound combines vocal harmonies, the crisp rhythms of an acoustic guitar, the haunting voices of the fiddle, dobro (resonator slide guitar), and the resonant lows of an acoustic bass.     For additional information,  contact 305-442-6866 or visit www.TheBarnacle.org   The Barnacle Society, Inc. is a volunteer, non-profit, citizen-support organization created to generate public awareness, education, and financial support for the preservation and maintenance of The Barnacle Historic State Park.     Event: Evening Concert Date: Sunday, September 14, 2014. Time: Gates open 5:30. Music starts at 6:30 PM.    Admission: $10 Future Members. $8 Members. $3 Ages 6-9. Under 6 free. Blankets, lawn chairs, and picnics are welcome during this event. Flashlights recommended. No pets, please.   Where: The Barnacle Historic State Park 3485 Main Highway Coconut Grove, FL across the street from the Coconut Grove Playhouse.   Become a Member: If not a member, join now! or contact us at 305.442.6866. Memberships Levels: $20     Senior/Student $30     Individual $40     Dual $50     Family $100   Contributing $500   Corporate/Fellow $1000  Life   Help us preserve this treasured space for future generations to enjoy.

OLD FRIENDS

      Do you know anyone that could jump on their bike, at the age of 81, and pedal it from Miami to Key West?  Our remarkable friend, travel writer Herb Hiller did just that two years ago.

    You may remember a piece I wrote about him in 2009.  Herb had left the Grove for North Florida.  We motor-boated through a passel of gators to visit his Lake George island home.  
     Last week Herb was visiting us.  He was here to do the groundwork for a major 2015 bicycling event, "WHEELS".  It was great to see him.

    Many people leave the Grove after they retire.  They'll say it's traffic, taxes, or the call of some retirement community (or island). 

     Charlie Cinnamon will have none of that.  Herb and I strolled down to his tree-draped cottage at the west end of the block. The two of them reminisced for a half-hour about  the half-century they've shared doing PR in South Florida.  

   
 Charlie noted, "Herb, you're always moving.  I suppose its the wanderlust in you" to which Herb replied thoughtfully, "Yes, I suppose it is".

      Mr. Cinnamon is busier than ever.  His projects include promoting the Arscht's Center's Broadway series and Cleveland Orchestra's performances in South Florida. I see his dog, Coalie, taking Charlie on walks several times a day.

    Francesca photographed us when we realized each of us Grove guys had started something. 

    Charlie invented the Coconut Grove Art Festival back in the early 60's.  Herb created the Grove's Goombay festival ('77) and I co-founded the King Mango Strut (1982).  We had some laughs about how our "babies" had grown up in surprising ways.


      The next day Herb jumped in his Toyota to head 700 miles north (his wanderlust telling him to  promote  bike trails in the Carolinas).   He left us a copy of his most recent book. If you want to wander up Florida's east coast, this is the one to read.

     I ran into another older friend a few days later after noticing a new wheel chair ramp leading up to Dave Garrett's door.  When I knocked on it Dave greeted me from his new wheelchair.  "My legs gave out",  explained my 91-year-old neighbor adding, "I'm doing okay but it makes it harder to sail and play the piano". 
     The WW II vet (Army Air Corps engineer) always has interesting stories.  We sat down and he told me another one.  
Dave visited Germany's Dachau concentration camp after it had been liberated in 1945.  "It was as horrible as you might expect", he recalled.   

    "I walked into the gas chamber that had been disguised as a large shower room.  Alone with thoughts of the thousands who had died there,  I looked up at one of the shower heads that had dispensed the lethal gas.  It could have fooled me too.
     I unscrewed it and shoved it in my pocket then thought, 'Do I really want do remember taking this for the rest of my  life?'   I returned it to its rightful place".

     It's good he can remember getting it right on that day 69 years in the past.  I stood there myself in '71 and my sons, two years ago.

    I thanked Dave for his service, his stories, and thought how nice it is that we still have a few elders enjoying the jungles of Coconut Grove.  

                                       ___