John Claude Bemis is a visual artist and sculptural mask maker based in Hillsborough, North Carolina. He makes his home on the banks of the Eno River where the woods and the magic of the natural world are the portal for his imagination. In his other creative careers, John writes stories about magic and wonder.
John Claude Bemis author website.
To learn more about his latest creative pursuits and upcoming shows, follow John on Facebook and Instagram.
about the masks
My masks are drawn from Southern folklore and woodland mythology to represent manifestations of spirit guardians and guides who help transform the way we see ourselves, our lives, and our world.
Each mask is handmade using papier-mâché, foam clay, acrylic paint, and a variety of found objects such as mountain laurel twigs, buckeyes, acorns, brass keys, hemp cords, leather, and beads. No two masks are alike, and each has a life of its own to ignite stories in the imagination of those who view it.
For some, the masks are meant to be worn for festivals—such as part of Hillsborough’s Handmade Parade, which was the original impetus for my mask-making. For others, they are sculptural art to hang on the wall. Still for others, they are totemic objects to protect, guide, and draw on for mythic messages.
