Performing Arts Assistant Professor Indira Salinas said she will never forget the surprise in her students’ eyes upon seeing artist Alicia Martínez Álvarez’s fascinating masks.

A visiting artist, Álvarez presented “…In the Land of Masks,” as part of International Education Week event on November 19 in the Bordy Theater.

Seeing and touching Álvarez’s masks dovetailed with curriculum, as students had recently been introduced to important acting training based on masks, said Salinas.

“Students had the opportunity to know more about this training and also to know more about the art of masks in general,” said Salinas. “Those who had taken the workshop could embody the training, and surprised themselves with the extraordinary masks that Alicia brought and allowed them to play with.”

Photos by Zac Poulin ’24

Álvarez is a stage creator, a teacher at the National School of Theater Art in Mexico City, and founder of the Laboratorio de la Máscara. Alvarez introduced a series of her handmade masks and discussed her artistic approach, which Salinas translated and facilitated.

Álvarez’s artist statement expounds upon her art and inspiration.

“I inherit a long chain of knowledge and feelings from the references of my history and my country; the teachings of teachers and mentors from different parts of the world and listening to students from different schools and universities. From there comes the reflection that I now share: The mask that is inhabited from a firm heart and a wise body will boldly embody our complex humanity.”

Salinas said the event held great importance for the Emerson College community.

“With the talk, more people could meet Alicia and know about her perspective on the mask work as an expert in this topic and get fascinated with the masks and a performance with one of them,” said Salinas. “Let’s make more events like this happen. Events that remind us that the world is big and vast and extraordinary. The dialogue with other cultures and backgrounds let us truly talk about inclusion.”