Beware The Psyche Behind The Mask
Sigmund Freud would have a field day.
Coeur d’Alene is full of dementia, psychoses and delusions of grandeur. The problems are obvious from the handmade masks hanging on the wall in the Kootenai County Arts Council’s Gallery by the Lake.
Alas, Freud is long gone, but Skip Frazier has no problem filling the analyst’s role. Note the similarity in initials. It’s no accident Skip’s a psychological counselor.
“Be afraid of these people,” he says, ominously nodding his bearded head at the frightful display of masks. “What an assortment of complex minds.”
Rorschach tests don’t reveal as much as these masks, created by Kootenai County’s finest citizens. Finest because when art gallery director Kathy Flint asked for donations of handmade Halloween masks to auction off for the gallery, these people volunteered their time and talents.
And their neuroses.
“This one needs hospitalization with medication,” Skip says, chuckling nervously as he examines a pink and purple head topped with rippled fins. The nose is twisted to one side. A single eye hole gazes emptily from midcheek. Skip glances fearfully around him for the artist.
“That’s how I feel with a sinus headache,” Kathy says, shrinking from the painful reminder.
There’s a toucan mask with a zucchini-like nose that Skip refuses to analyze aloud, a provocative fertility mask and a fluffy, feathery number he suggests either came from or should be worn by an attractive blonde.
One artist poured her disdain for men into her male chauvinist pig-in-pain mask and another exposed her paranoia by creating a mask with multiple eyes and antennae.
“I guess I am a little paranoid,” Kathy says, giggling at Skip’s assessment of the mask she made.
But the analyst’s favorite is the huge King Tut head by Turner Bay artist Greg Torline. It’s gold and bright and Skip is enchanted.
“It’s a therapist’s mask,” he announces, trying to twist it onto his head. “Grandiose, narcissistic. I want it.”
Except his head is too big for it, which proves what a good analyst he is.
The arts council will exhibit the masks and take bids until the auction on Oct. 24 at the Gallery by the Lake in the Resort Plaza Shops in Coeur d’Alene.
Lost and found
Remember Coeur d’Alene’s Yvonne MacDonald? A woman from Australia wanted Ann MacDonald but dialed Yvonne’s number. The woman hung up before Yvonne realized she could help her find her friend. Then Yvonne didn’t know how to reach the caller again, but she wouldn’t give up.
Yvonne tracked Ann MacDonald to Western Washington, then remembered that the Australian caller had mentioned where she worked. Yvonne found the business and then the caller.
She was disappointed the two old friends couldn’t meet in person, but was proud she’d reunited them on the telephone. I hope the next wrong number I dial is Yvonne’s …
What wrong numbers have made your day? Spin a good tale for Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene 83814; fax to 765-7149; call 765-7128; or E-mail to cynthiat@spokesman.com.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo