Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks Exhibit

Overview

A collaborative exhibit presented by Gonzaga University & the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture

Bringing together the cultural richness of contemporary mascaras (masks) and danzas (dances) of Michoacán, Mexico, the Dancing with Life exhibit at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) in Spokane, Washington provides a fresh perspective to these danzas. It prioritizes the voices and experiences of mask artists, performers, and communities. This website and exhibit explore the production and sculpting of the masks as well as the performances of these distinctive and historical danzas within the communities. This website brings to light the intricate Indigenous and mestizo artwork from artists of various Michoacán communities. It incorporates the voices of the artists and dancers, while providing eye-catching images and moving interviews.. This exhibit illustrates that through humor and subversion, Mexican mask makers have always responded to the social and political circumstances of contemporary life. The website details the masks, the dances and the artists in their own words.