What is Behind Your Mask? (Two-Hour Workshop)

The Your Mask is a collage that represents what you allow others to see, on the front of your mask, and what you may be hiding from others, on the back side of your mask.

This project is helpful with an individual or within a variety of groups including, but not limited to: leadership teams, bible study groups, and short-term mission teams.

To create a mask, choose pictures, colorful papers, fabric, words etc. to collage your story on each side of a paper mask.

  1. On one side of the mask, you will glue on items that represent how you try to look on the outside and what you are known for.
  2. On the backside, you will glue on items that represent things that you hidden, such as trauma, loss, bitterness, or even talents and desires.

The medium of collage may help you communicate stories in which there have had no words for. One may use magazine pictures, colored papers, or fabric to represent emotions or events such as joy, hope, pain or loss, etc.

After creating, we will take time to share with a safe person or group. Making art often helps us reach straight into our souls, and things long hidden may surface and be brought to the light. This is the beginning of healing for many. One may weep and rejoice with other as one’s stories are told. It is healing to be heard and seen by others who show compassion and empathy.  At this point in the workshop, you may want to pray for one another, offer comfort to the hard part of your story, and thank the Lord for the graces you may not have seen before.

You are encouraged to date you projects and journal about the process of creating this project and what you discovered.

Supply List:

  • Paper masks
  • Pictures, words, or phrases from magazines
  • Painted papers or scrapbook papers
  • Glue sticks
  • Scissors

A materials fee and an honorarium for the Creative Call are received at the end of each workshop. These fees depend on the size of your group and length of workshop.

One suggestion – After a time of sharing both sides of our masks, take time to pray for the things brought to the light. Then, consider bringing Scripture to various situations, or take new, redemptive pictures and place them next to the original pictures that may have expressed sorrow, loss, violation, shame, decease, abuse, hatred, prejudice, or issues with faith.

One may choose to create a collage that represents an integration of what they hide and what they show to others. This is a collage was made in response to reading the book, “Till We Have Faces.” She outwardly expresses the spirit of adventure and gratitude for God’s work of redemption in her life. At the same time, when feeling powerless, fearful, and shamed, she attempts to cover up by controlling and constantly improving.