My Masterpiece: Pacific Island Mask Kit

The Elema people of the Papuan Gulf in southeast New Guinea formerly practiced an elaborate cycle of masked rituals. While some mask types were sacred, others, such as this eharo mask, were created primarily for amusement.Among the Elema people of New Guinea, eharo masks are considered “things of gladness” that young men wear before the start of a serious ceremony. One of these eye-catching masks from The Metropolitan Museum of Art inspired the design in this kit, which features 12 precut pieces of wood over board, three sticks of chalk, a length of jute, and a jar of glue.