Borukan Mask Making and Orchids

I don’t know that much about orchids, beyond my admiration for them, and I can never get them to bloom for me again. But I understand someone having a passion for them. I was stopped in my tracks at the Northwest Orchid Society’s display garden, “Masked Perfection--Are Orchids the Perfect Mask?”  A Costa Rican, Pedro Rojas Morales was demonstrating the art of carving the multi-colored masks.  He did not speak English; however, his hands spoke a language everyone could understand--art. A Borucan Indian, he carves masks out of balsa wood or cedar, a long time tradition of their culture.

In the garden display, the mask is used as a metaphor to the orchid, which nature created “…through color, shape and aroma to attract the one significant insect or animal…” I will let the following photos paint the story.

Click on images for larger versions.

 

A real crowd pleaser.

Comments

[JeanneK]

Very cool masks. The colors are fantastic. Such intense blues, oranges and greens. Having one of these masks would instantly transport you to the tropics. Ahhh, so relaxing to sit on a beach with a mai tai, particularly after a hike through a steamy, jungle, looking for rare plants and exotic animals. Now that is my way to relax! LOL!