1. Latin/ Central American Masks
Ms. Tracy

2. What Countries are in Latin/ Central America?
Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, and the Guayanas

3. History of the masks
In Latin America there is an enthusiastic ceremonial use of masks expressing the myths, legends, culture and history of its people.  Operating within the ritual festival complexes of both the Pre-Columbian and Christian worlds these masked dances signify a contractual arrangement between the community and the supernatural.  With roots in pre-Hispanic theatrical performances some of the masks produced in the rural areas relate to the natural world where spring rites are performed for fertility, rain and the protection of crops.
After the Conquest, many of the indigenous myths and legends were overlaid with Christian beliefs. Traditionally, the Spanish used masks in their own culture and found them to be a useful tool for converting the peoples of the Americas to Catholicism. Masks are worn to honor the community´s patron saint, used in the Christian Morality plays, Carnival, Easter, Corpus Christi and Day of the Dead. Combat dances such as the Moors and the Christians and the Dance of the Conquest were often incorporated into these same festivals.  In many of the dances, the characters of death and the devil are present and depicted wearing an infinite variety of creative masks and costumes. Masquerading also can be satirical or comedic with commentary on daily life and its complications thus providing entertainment and serving the needs of the local community.

4. How were they made?
This wide array of original masks are often produced by the same families from generation to generation or can be the creative expression of one individual participating in the dance.  The beautifully sculpted woodcarvings with very refined features and skillfully painted are made by "santeros" or saint carvers while others can be grotesque in form, coloring and expression or crudely carved by a village carver.  Some of the other materials used to make masks are leather, cloth, copper, wax, cardboard, papier mache, rubber tires, metal cans, straw and latex.  

5. Examples
According to the beliefs of most pre-Hispanic cultures, a smiling sun warms the earth for life to be born and renewed.

6. Eufrosia Pantaleon is inspired by the legendary Olmec heads in the design of this mask. Believed to represent governors, the original gigantic heads are carved from stone. Pantaleon reinterprets these archeological treasures with this ceramic mask. She paints the blue, golden yellow, red and beige mask with extraordinary detail in celebration of Mexico's flora and fauna.
"My grandfather instilled in me a passion for Guatemala's traditional dances, especially their characters. I designed this mask inspired by the Deer Dance, where the rooster is one of the characters in this much celebrated performance," confides Vilma Leticia Chile.
A smiling deer with silver horns wears mirrored ornaments for a Guatemalan folk dance. By Vilma Leticia Chile, this mask is used in the Dance of the Deer, which celebrates a successful hunt.

7. More Information!
Latin American Mask Link

8. Cite FUN WEBSITE TO VISIT! http://www.brooklynexpedition.org/latin/
-thematic-guides_ppt_masks-of-latin-america.pdf