THEATER MASKS BY YOUTH WITH DOWN SYNDROME
Youth with Down syndrome displayed their fine motor skills and created theater masks. Under the guidance of Asst. Prof. Duygu Ebru Öngen Corsini, Faculty Member of Department of Fashion and Textile Design, Faculty of Arts and Design, Izmir University of Economics (IUE), the youth used waste and recycled paper and made masks that are used in performance arts.
Asst. Prof. Duygu Ebru Öngen Corsini gave information about the activity held as part of In-Orchestra - Project Erasmus Plus of Uşak University. Corsini stated that youth with Down syndrome working at ‘İyilik Atölyesi’ (Down Cafe) located at Mavibahçe Shopping Mall made a great effort to create masks for theater. Corsini, who reported that they used ready to use molds, said, “We wanted the youth to become acquainted with the masks that are used in performance arts. We used the La cartapesta technique. With this technique, they used waste and recycled paper, displayed their fine motor skills, and created theater masks. They experienced a different and efficient activity”.
'7 masks'
Corsini stated that they started by tearing the papers by hand and mixed them water-based adhesives, and placed them into mask molds that are greased. “The youth experienced how three dimensional masks are formed. You should have seen the excitement on their faces. They could hardly wait for the masks to dry. Groups of two worked together and created a total of 7 masks,” said Corsini.