Attendees to the MassQ Ball can be MassQed or MassQ themselves to become walking works of art.
Attendees to the MassQ Ball can be MassQed or MassQ themselves to become walking works of art.
THE MASSQ
THE MASSQ
[ masque, mahsk ]
​
A MassQ is a ritual application of paint to the face in order to reveal one's inner state of being.
​
The alternative spelling of "MassQ" is to differentiate it from our common notion of masks as a tools used to hide one's identity, or to assume the identity of another, or to protect against harm.
The purpose of a MassQ is not to hide, assume, or protect, but reveal. By using color, line and shape, a MassQ seeks to express and bring what is inside, out.
MASSQing
MASSQING
[ the creation of a MassQ ]
​
At the core of the MassQ Ball is the MassQing ritual.
Derived from the ancient tradition of body decoration practiced by nearly every indigenous culture on the planet, MassQing is a communal act that requires all participants (artist, subject and viewer) to engage each other face to face; transforming people into art and art into life.
During the MassQ Ball attendees will have the opportunity to MassQ themselves or be MassQed by our cohort of trained visual artists.
Though completely optional, MassQing is highly recommended in order to get the full experience of the event.