On the corner of Montrose and Damen, there is an understated storefront with the white sign above proclaiming it “The Inside Out Art Studio: Serious Fun for Artists of All Ages.” Inside this shop is a treasure trove of hand made masks and puppets created by an artist named Jeff Semmerling and his partner Sonja Schaefer. With training from the best mask-makers in New Orleans, Jeff has brought his passion for the masking experience back to his native Chicago. “When wearing a mask, it’s not you; but yet it is you! That’s the magic!” says Semmerling.
Jeff arrived in New Orleans in the winter of 1981 with the objective of immersing himself in the Mardi Gras carnival, and was spellbound by the ability of masks to allow people to express their eagerness to live. “That was like roller-blinds flapping up in my head. It was just amazing how the whole city can just take this deep sigh and express joy.” He had worked with the idea of masks before in his theatre career, but never in the capacity that Mardi Gras lends to the craft.
The masks made at the studio are most often of leather, but they also use neoprene. The masks require about 12 to14 stages from raw materials to finished product.
The leather is hand-sanded and coated with acrylic for a high-quality finish that makes them water-resistant and allows the owner to wipe them with a wet cloth in the interest of cleanliness.
Mardi Gras masks are not a unique cultural phenomenon. Many other peoples of the world use masks in story-telling, everyday life, festivals, and religious events. They are the alternative faces of man, and allow for new dimensions in human interactions.
In upcoming holidays – Halloween and Día de los Muertes (Day of the Dead) – masks are central pieces of celebration, both in the present and historically. Celtic druids used to wear masks when celebrating the feast of Samhain (which later developed into Halloween), and masks are traditionally seen in Día de los Muertes festivities.
Jeff is interested in all aspects of the mask: history, production, use, meaning, and social change. If you ever see a man in an airport or walking around the Loop with a ridiculous smile that could be a mask, it may just be him. He likes to see how people react to a bit of silliness. As he says, “Just a regular old smile can really change the world around you. If it is that easy to make someone feel that much better, why aren’t we doing this kind of thing all of the time?”
Jeff is a good friend of and supplier for Patch Adams. Yes. THE Patch Adams – not Robin Williams, but the actual man Williams imitated in the film by that title. A belief they share is that having fun in public is a revolutionary act that should be tried by all.
Clowning around is not all that Jeff does. He also teaches classes on mask and puppet creation, and is involved with several projects and shows that feature his handiwork. He works with local schools on mask making projects for students as applied to many different disciplines, including science, history, and art.
Matching costumes is a favorite diversion for Jeff, so for avid costume-wearers, this can really be a boon. By the time this article prints, however, it may be too late to order custom masks for the day of Halloween, since he is accepting orders only until 14 days before Halloween (10 days if you are lucky). He does have a wide selection available in stock, but hurry- masks disappear quickly at this time of year!
The Inside Out Art Studio is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturdays, although there will probably be extended hours up until Halloween. They are open year-round, so start planning early if you are headed to Mardi Gras for spring break.
The studio is located at 2005 W. Montrose, and the phone number is (773) 697-5012. Also, more information can be found at the website: www.maskartists.com.