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Puppet & Mask for Ritual: Spring Equinox Mask-Making Intensive

$250.00

Step into a two-day immersive ritual art experience where sculpture, story, and embodiment meet.

This hands-on workshop invites participants to design and build their own ceremonial papier-mâché mask—a powerful, wearable art piece representing a personal symbol, spirit ally, archetype, or aspect of the natural world you wish to embody.

Timed with the energy of the Spring Equinox, this workshop centers on renewal, emergence, and transformation. Together we will explore mask-making not just as a craft, but as a ritual process—a way to give form to inner imagery, animistic forces, and personal myth.

Step into a two-day immersive ritual art experience where sculpture, story, and embodiment meet.

This hands-on workshop invites participants to design and build their own ceremonial papier-mâché mask—a powerful, wearable art piece representing a personal symbol, spirit ally, archetype, or aspect of the natural world you wish to embody.

Timed with the energy of the Spring Equinox, this workshop centers on renewal, emergence, and transformation. Together we will explore mask-making not just as a craft, but as a ritual process—a way to give form to inner imagery, animistic forces, and personal myth.

With ArtJoy Founder Toni Mikulka-Chang and workshop facilitator Marya Stark

Step into a two-day immersive ritual art experience where sculpture, story, and embodiment meet.

This hands-on workshop invites participants to design and build their own ceremonial papier-mâché mask—a powerful, wearable art piece representing a personal symbol, spirit ally, archetype, or aspect of the natural world you wish to embody.

Timed with the energy of the Spring Equinox, this workshop centers on renewal, emergence, and transformation. Together we will explore mask-making not just as a craft, but as a ritual process—a way to give form to inner imagery, animistic forces, and personal myth.

This is not a casual craft class. It is a guided creative and ceremonial journey that blends:

  • Ritual and symbolic storytelling

  • Professional papier-mâché techniques

  • Sustainable, accessible sculptural methods

  • Embodiment, movement, and performance

Participants will leave with a finished, wearable mask and the skills to continue exploring mask and puppet arts in their own creative or ritual practice.


Workshop Structure

Format:

  • 2 days

  • 4 hours each day (8 hours total)

Group size:

  • Maximum 15 participants (or more depending on space)

Locations (TBD):

  • The Center for the Arts, Grass Valley

  • ArtJoy Studio

  • Or another suitable local venue


What You Will Learn & Do

Day 1: Visioning + Building the Form

  • Guided process to clarify the symbol, story, or being your mask represents

  • Intro to ritual mask traditions and contemporary puppet/mask work

  • Design sketching and form planning

  • Building the base mask form using accessible, low-waste techniques

  • First papier-mâché layers and structural shaping

Day 2: Sculpting, Finishing + Embodiment

  • Refining sculptural details and surface texture

  • Additional papier-mâché layers and strengthening

  • Painting and simple finishing techniques

  • Basic harnessing / wearing considerations

  • Introduction to mask animation and embodiment:

    • How to wear the mask

    • How to move with it

    • How to give it presence, intention, and life

We will close with a short, playful group embodiment and movement exploration using the finished masks.


What’s Included

  • All materials (papier-mâché, paints, structural materials, etc.)

  • Use of shared tools and equipment

  • All instruction and guided facilitation

  • Your completed ritual mask to take home

Cost:

  • $250 per person (all-inclusive)


Optional Online Add-On

Dreaming the Mask: Symbol, Story & Ritual Art (Online Session)

Cost: $33

A 90-minute online session open to both workshop participants and others who want the conceptual process.

This session uses the same tools and methods from the in-person workshop to help you:

  • Clarify your mask’s symbolic meaning

  • Explore personal imagery, archetypes, and animistic themes

  • Develop sketches and concept notes

  • Arrive at the in-person workshop with a strong, clear vision

Highly recommended for participants, but not required.


Who This Is For

This workshop is for people who:

  • Are drawn to ritual, embodiment, and symbolic art

  • Want to explore creativity as a transformational practice

  • Love masks, puppets, mythology, and storytelling

  • Want to make something meaningful, not just decorative

No prior art or performance experience required.


About the Facilitators

Toni Mikulka-Chang is the founder of ArtJoy and Giant Puppets Save the World, with over 20 years of experience creating large-scale puppets, masks, and immersive art experiences for festivals, museums, and community rituals across the U.S. Her work focuses on sustainable materials, storytelling, and art as a tool for connection and transformation. (Expand)

Marya Stark is a singer, ritualist, and facilitator whose work weaves voice, embodiment, and deep imagery into transformative group experiences. She brings the ceremonial container and soulful guidance that helps these masks become truly alive. (Expand)


Registration Info (Placeholder)

  • Dates: March 21 and 22

  • Location: TBD (Grass Valley / Nevada City area) 

    • Possible locations: Center for the Arts, ArtJoy studio (previously Giant Puppets Save the World), St. Joseph’s, Elk’s Lodge

  • Capacity: 15-20 participants max (possibly more depending on space)

  • Tuition: $250

  • Optional online add-on: $33