portfolio of Cedar Fox

This is just a sampling of wearable art masks, cuffs, pins, mitts, and crowns that J. “Cedar” has been making as one-of-a-kind costume pieces since 2012. “I was initially transfixed by ancient masks from the collection in Milwaukee Public Museum as a child. They both intrigued and scared me and I recognized that masks were part of a collective human experience full of power and interpretation.”

“My masks are inspired by nature, folklore, fiction, holidays, seasons, human struggle, and storytelling. They are made from a myriad of conventional and unconventional materials that were available; natural feathers, fungi, mosses, seed pods, vintage millinery supplies (from the 1920s-1960s), jewelry supplies, archival glues, paper mache, clock pieces, hardware, wires, found objects, floral supply, ribbons, stones, plastic, glitter, paints and a whole bunch of experimentation.”

“Being both challenged and invigorated by the opportunities that come with working with as many different things as I could find, this wide harvest freed me from the horrifying idea of ever running out of art materials. Shifting my lens allowed me to cultivate my ingenuity amongst artful triumphs and failures. I seek to understand the limitations and possibilities of each item to serve as an integral piece of a new story. It renews my sense of awe and accessibility to peace in practice. By building my toolbox and expressive supply, every mask became better than the last and, like children, a little more difficult to let go of. Each is birthed from a joyful mix of whimsy and seriousness. I aim to allow wearers and observers the opportunity of a transformative experience of a refreshed or new identity.”

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