The 2006 Mask Exhibition and Auction was assembled to represent the magnificent diversity within artists dealing with one theme, Masks.  The exhibition is by no means representative of all genres of Masks, but instead a national interpretation of “Mask” influenced by life, travel, belonging and escape.
My intentions, when assembling this impressive group of artists, were to have a great exhibition.  To my surprise and delight, I found out that the artists were not only talented but extremely generous.  The auction portion of this exhibition will benefit the artists and the Bowling Green International Festival.  With this in mind, artists like Kaaren Hirschowitz Engel chose to exhibit more than one piece.  All of the works in the exhibition are part of the auction, including Zeitgeist Gallery artist Lain York’s “Untitled (Secret Society Mask) [pictured left].”   Lain shares, “All human societies in one way or another make art; we all share this basic need.”
I was also excited to be invited by David Paul Gibson, Director of Music, to curate the exhibition at The Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall during the Liturgical Music Festival.  With close proximity to the heart of the Bowling Green International Festival, the church could not be a more perfect space.  Additionally, Laura Goodwin, Director of Christian Education, chose to host Mask artist Robert Vore as part of their youth educational programming.  Vore will lead young artists in creating art for an exhibition in the children’s library at The Presbyterian Church.

• August 25, 2006
  • Deadline for intent to submit work. (see agreement below)
• September 6th
  • All Mask Exhibition entries received
• September 14-16
  • Curate and install Mask Exhibit at The Presbyterian Church ,
• September 17th, 2006
  • Presbyterian Church Liturgical Music Festival opening night & artist reception
  • Music at 3:00pm, Art reception 4:00pm-6:00pm
• September 22nd, 2006
  • BG Int Fest. Mask Exhibition Opening Reception 5:00pm-9:00pm
• September 22-30, 2006
  • BG Int. Fest. Gallery Walk Reception 5-9pm
  • The Presbyterian Church is open weekdays from 8:30am – 4:30pm
• September 30th, 2006
  • Artists from Mask Exhibit invited to make appearances on stage during the International Festival
  • Silent bids will be taken throughout the duration of the festival
• October 9th, 2006
  • Auction closes and the winning bidders will be announced.
• October 27th, 2006
  • Mask exhibit  closes.

Performers: Armin Hasanagic • Beth Sar Shalom Musicians & Dancers • Bowling Green International Center Talent Show • Bosnian Club Traditional Musicians & Kolo Dancers • Dance Arts Kids Performance Troupe • Def Leprechaun • Fire & Strings • Graham Hudspeth, Skip Cleavinger, Chris Carmichael • Gary Cady • The Guy Mendilow Band • Johnny Castro • Nashville Chinese Culture Club • Thywill Amenya & Friends Ghanaian Drums and Dance • Joe Marshall • Hispano America • Lagniappe • Matt Zarb • Molly Maguires • Open Multicultural Drum Circle • Parade of Cultures • Regional Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Signing Program • Scott-Ellis Irish School of Dance • Shadowdancer • Southern Kentucky Japanese Association • Trabuko

Heritage Stage – MC: Joe Marshall • Stage Manager: David Dorris, Carson Dorris • Sound: Ambush Sound • Staging: BG Tents • Located on Park Row near College St.

• 9:45 a.m. -10:05 a.m.  Opening Ceremony – India Hooks, President
• 10:05 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.  Awards Ceremony – Amy Milliken, Student Mask Contest
• 10:20 a.m. -10:50 a.m.  Nashville Chinese Culture Club – Traditional Chinese Dance
• 11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.  Lagniappe – Cajun & Zydecco
• 12:00 p.m. – 12:25 p.m. Burma Nationals Association – Traditional Burmese Music and Dance
• 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Nashville Chinese Culture Club – Traditional Chinese Dance
• 1:05 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. Lagniappe – Cajun & Zydecco
• 2:10 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Gary Cady – Traditional Native American Dance
• 2:35 p.m. – 3:05 p.m. Hispano America – Folkloric Dances of Latin America
• 3:05 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Parade of Cultures – Make a Mask & March with Performers around the Square
• 3:20 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. Beth Sar Shalom Congregation – Traditional Jewish Music & Dance
• 3.55 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. Gary Cady – Traditional Native American Dance
• 4:35 p.m. – 5:25 p.m. Trabuko – Latin Variety & Salsa
• 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Hispano America – Folkloric Dances of Latin America
• 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Trabuko – Latin Variety & Salsa

Diversity Stage – MC: • Stage Manager: David Dorris, Carson Dorris • Sound: Ambush Sound • Staging: BG Tents • Located on Main Street near College St.

• 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.  Graham Hudspeth, Skip Cleavinger, Chris Carmichael –Traditional, Celtic with an original flair
• 11:25 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. Def Leprechaun – Traditional Irish Music
• 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Gary Cady – Traditional Native American Dance
• 1:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. The Guy Mendilow Band – Overtone Singing & Music with Influenced from Israel, South Africa, Mexico & Brazil
• 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Beth Sar Shalom Congregation – Traditional Jewish Music & Dance
• 3:05 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Parade of Cultures – Make a Mask & March with Performers around the Square
• 3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. The Guy Mendilow Band – Overtone Singing & Music with Influenced from Israel, South Africa, Mexico & Brazil
• 4:25 p.m. – 5:25 p.m. Matt Zarb – “Aussie bush-grass”
• 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. WKU Latin American Student Assoc presents Johnny Castro –Reggaeton
• 6:35 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Beth Sar Shalom Congregation – Traditional Jewish Music & Dance

Fire & Strings Performance Area -MC,Sound & Stage Manager: Fire & Strings – Kevin Wiley, S.J. Tucker • Drum Circle Host: Deen Collier • Staging: BG Tents • Located on State Street at the end of the Park

• 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  Fire & Strings – Poi Fire Dancing
• 11:35 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.  Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance – Traditional Irish & Step Dancing
• 12:10 p.m. -12:40 a.m.  Thywill Amenya & Friends Ghanaian Drums & Dance –Traditional Drums & Dancing from Ghana, Africa
• 12:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Fire & Strings – Poi Fire Dancing
• 1:20 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance – Traditional Irish & Step Dancing
• 1:55 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Dance Arts Performance Troupe – Traditional Dances from Israel, Serbia, Russia & China
• 2:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. Regional Resource for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing – Signing Song
• 2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Open Multicultural Drum Circle – Join Host Deen Collier and Performering Drummers for our Open Drum Circle
• 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Parade of Cultures – Make a Mask & March with Performers around the Square
• 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Open Multicultural Drum Circle – Join Host Deen Collier & Performering Drummers for our Open Drum Circle
• 4:05 p.m. – 4:35 p.m. Fire & Strings – Poi Fire Dancing
• 4:40 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. South Kentucky Japanese Association Dancers – Traditional Japanese & Bon Dance
• 5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Thywill Amenya & Friends Ghanaian Drums & Dance – Traditional Drums & Dancing from Ghana, Africa
• 5:50 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. On Stage – Turkish Folkdancing
• 6:25 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Fire & Strings – Poi Fire Dancing

World Stage Armin Hasanagic • Talent Show Hosts: Phuong Doan, Marty Deputy • Staging: BG Tents • Located in Parking Lot on State and Park Row

• 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Beth Sar Shalom Congregation – Traditional Jewish Music & Dance
• 10:50 a.m. -11:40 a.m. BG Bosnian Club Musicians & Dancers – Traditional Bosnian Music & Dance
• 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Armin Hasanagic – Traditional Bosnian & Original Bosnian Pop
• 12:55 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. Shadowdancer – Traditional, Modern & Original Celtic Music
• 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. The Molly Maguires – Traditional Irish Ballads
• 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Parade of Cultures – Make a Mask & March with Performers around the Square
• 3:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. BG International Center Talent Showcase: USA, A Melting Pot of Talent – Performances Scheduled On Site, First Come, First Serve. 2 Song, 3 Minute Set Up Limit per Performance.

In the Park – Ongoing performances & workshops at booth areas throughout the day

• Ceili & Open Mic in the Ireland booth (throughout the day Irish jams, sing your favorite Irish song during open mic and take a video excursion to the Emerald Isle.)
• Turkey by On Stage (bellydance & folkdancing lessons throughout the day)
• WKU Taiwanese Student Association (traditional Chinese painting, tea making show, traditional dance and costume shows)
• Burma Nationals Association – (Traditional Burmese Music and Dance 11:00am, 2:00pm, 4:30pm)
• Chiseled Features (pinata sculpture display with pinata breaking every hour on the hour)
• Society For Creative Anachronism Fighters (Middle Ages display and demonstrations)
• High Cross Society (Celtic culture demonstrations & displays, Kilt folding)
• Champion Martial Arts Academy (Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do & Kum Do demonstrations)
• Mustafa Abdul-Aleem (Drum workshops throughout the day)
• On Stage (Turkey’s music & dance expo 1:30; Belly Dancing Basics 2:00; Learn a Folk Dance 5:00)
• Shaolin Kung Fu (Lion Dance & Martial Arts demonstrations)
• Tom Pardue’s East/West Kung Fu (Lion Dance & Martial Arts demonstrations)
• Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi (Martial Arts demonstrations)
• Willie Rascoe (woodworking display and ongoing workshops)
  
• Parade of Cultures – Make a Mask & March with Performers around the Square.
• Warren County Courthouse – Entries from the Bowling Green International Festival Student Mask Contest
• Presbyterian Church – Mask Exhibition & Auction