Workshops

Workshops
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　 Shop Membership 日本語 Cottage  How to cast a mask-click here to see.
How to cast a Mask Copyright © 2008 Sha Sha Higby

"The costume is the center of an unfolding, wordless drama and… delightfully playful humor… a sumptuously fantastical creation." (S.F. Examiner)
See a demo online about making a mold
Some of the write ups are similar but choose the one that sounds the best for you.
Lecture:The Artists Work Time one hour
Using slides, Sha Sha will first introduce you to her approach to movement and theater as it originally came to her through sculpture, mask, and costume. She will have pictures of her early work and the steps and choices she made to come to what the work is today. She will also bring actual samples of her work for people to closely examine. Participants will be invited to ask questions.
Sha Sha Higby approaches dance through the medium of sculpture, Using the painterly manipulation of materials such as wood,silk,paper,lacquer,ceramics,and gold leaf,Higby creates ephemeral body sculptures. These painstakingly constructed "costumes," interwoven with delicate props,are the foundation for haunting performances,inspired by Indonesian,Japanese,Indian ,and Western dance traditions. Higby's trance-like movement reveal a theater of slow passion,potent with hypnotic intensity. Sha Sha Higby studied for one year in Japan. and for 5 years in Indonesia,under a Fulbright scholarship. She is a recipient of both Fulbright and Indo-American Fellowships to study in India.
See a tutorial online on sewing and dying of costumes
The Moving Archetypal Image Create and become your own moving temple ... an icon that comes alive as an archetypal image that you will manipulate yourself and move within. Participants will learn a myriad of “hands on” techniques that   Sha Sha uses for the construction of her sculptural costumes. Learn to cast masks from molds, add wire extensions, metallic leaf, rice paper, fibers inspired by the natural environment. At the end, you will explore the mysteries of creativity through movement visualizations using intuition, movement, and poetry. Bring memorabilia,poems, enclosure (s) that you would like to include in your moving temple- a mandala of images. At the workshop’s end, we will perform or ask each other to perform our individual body sculptures . This workshop promises many surprises – poignant, powerful, humorous, and flamboyant. Let this creative opportunity inspire other realms of your life. The beginner is welcome, as well as the seasoned artist. ideally 2-4 day workshop but abbreviated version can be done as a day workshop.
For the workshop, wear loose and dark clothing and bring a flash light, journal or colored construction paper, pastels, pliers, scissors, cardboard, masking tape, and any ornamental yarns, trims, beads, fabric scraps, sticks, or other bits of interesting forms you find.

Sha Sha covers all sculptural and casting materials, crinoline, foils for decorating, dyes, patinas, silk roving, and organic materials. If you are presenting...,Details of materials and supplies needed

Whirling Felted Mask Images Using your intuition, movement, and poetry, the natural environment you will be led through a myriad of techniques for the construction of a three-dimensional mask. Learn to cast and mold one of Sha Sha’s masks from her molds, recast, then” paint” it with colorful wool roving,bits of fibers,rice paper, and make it into a felt mask,then add felted extensions of felt, and let your masks grow. Enter another world and create your own iconic image that comes alive as an archetypal image.
We have only a day, but it will allow you to experience how Sha Sha works and creates her mask sculptures. Participants will explore the mysteries of creativity and performance in this hands-on mask making workshop. This workshop promises many surprises – poignant, powerful, humorous, and flamboyant. Let this creative opportunity inspire other realms of your life. The beginner is welcome, as well as the seasoned artist. 415-868-2409. 
For the workshop, wear loose and dark clothing pliers, scissors, any ornamental yarns, your own roving, metallic threads, trims,, small gossamer silk scraps, gauze, or other bits of interesting forms you find. Plastic
Sha Sha covers all sculptural and casting materials, crinoline, foils for decorating, dyes, patinas, silk roving, and organic materials.

Wire forms in Light One of the techniques Sha Sha uses in her costumes is manipulating three dimensional forms with wire, Sculpt your own sculpture out of wire. Stretch it with different colored papers and tint it with dyes.Or use it for your mask that you made the week before. Or when it is not being worn, electrically wire it and put it on a revolving base so it moves in the light( supplies available at workshop) A the end create a short performance vignette in a darkened room . We will work with some other techniques Sha Sha uses for formulating her costumes. To get started and to take a break from our wirework, movement will inspire drawings that loosen us to create unimaginable structures. $100. includes materials,lamp parts etc.
Bring your own needle nose pliers medium size and some scrap newspaper,some varieties of rice paper. For the workshop, wear loose and dark clothing and bring a flash light, journal or colored construction paper, pastels, pliers, scissors, cardboard, masking tape, and any ornamental yarns, trims, beads, fabric scraps, sticks, or other bits of interesting forms you find.
See a demo online
Golden Masks on a Stick
Caste from a mold of Sha Sha's Higby's molds, customize and sculpt, mount them on a stick structure to which we can add wires to make structural form,decorate, and add whimsical projections to suit .Sha Sha will guide you through a myriad her techniques of wire wrapping and embellishing that she uses in her costumes. See the application of gold leaf and silver leaf and foils and multi colored patinas to masks and different surfaces she uses in her work. During breaks we will work with movement in the way Sha Sha works. We will add bells, add rattles and bring to shiffer and shake our golen and sparkling images at the performance. After the show is over you will be invited with your masks up onto the stage to play in the atmosphere. $15-20 mat fee

Slipper Theater
This class will give you a taste of all the techniques Sha Sha uses in her costumes.Join Sha Sha Higby,and build a tiny set of fabulous fanciful miniature dancing shoes. Make the heals,and build the form with heat shrink fabrics,and glues from the millinery and prosthetic trades. We will then bead and decorate the body of the miniature shoe. Bring any ornamental materials,glitter,feathers, and music that you would like to go with your shoe. Bring your show to the show and place it on the stage,amake a wish ,and the shoe could even be selected to participate in Sha Sha's performance approx $15-20 mat fee

Whirling Silken Visages (Mask Collage with silk paper)
Experience Sha Sha!. Cast a mask from a selection of Sha Sha’s rubber molds, then fashion your own mask on top out of clay. Watch or cast yourself a negative out of rubber for your own customized mold.. The next day we will work with silk papers that we dye and collage into the surface and an encircling headdress or collar. With different methods of wiring to attach them to each to form 3 dimensional shapes. We will work with techniques Sha Sha uses in her costumes and ideas for formulating her movement and performances. Movement will inspire drawings that loosen us to create more visionary structures. At the end we will find a time make an informal performance of our masks.
For the workshop, wear loose and dark clothing, journal or colored construction paper, pastels, pliers, scissors, cardboard, masking tape, and any ornamental yarns, trims, beads, fabric scraps, sticks, or other bits of interesting forms you find.
Sha Sha covers all sculptural and casting materials, crinoline, foils for decorating, dyes, patinas, silk roving, and organic materials.

Ms. Higby teaches textile, mask-making, performance, headdress and costume construction workshops around the world. Artist,Sha Sha Higby is nationally known for her evocative and haunting performances and for the exquisite and ephemeral body sculpture she creates to move within.

Masks and their Movement
We will get an insight into creative techniques Sha Sha uses for formulating her costumes. With simple paper mask sculptures we build ourselves,we will charge and magnify whichever part of the face and body we choose to have come alive and perform for us. Through techniques of creativity with paper folding, drawing ,tearing, attaching to wires and movement we will collage together a mask and loosen up to see our body became its own sculpture that can magically grow in any direction possible. $45 /$5 materials fee.
bring your own assortment of colored paper,tracing paper,recycled paper, scissors, needle nose pliers cardboard,tape,pastels,crayons,charcoal,,glue stick,stapler,wires,maybe some music you like Space should provide CD Player. 3 Hours: all ages.$5 materials fee. Call 415-868-2409  to register for one or both of these workshops.
International performance/sculptural artist, Sha Sha Higby is known for her evocative and haunting performances. using the exquisite and ephemeral body sculpture she meticulously creates and moves within. Sha Sha studied for 1 year in Japan, 5 years in Indonesia under a Fulbright Scholarship, and 6 months in India,she has received numerous awards and grants and has been performing since 1982 internationally and throughout the U.S., Europe, the Singapore Festival of the Arts, the Hong Kong Fringe Festival, the Bali Arts Festival, and the Sydney Festival of Arts,recently at the Glass Museum,Southwest Center for Craft She has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts in Theater, and the Japan-US Friendship commission, supported by the Zellerbach Family Fund.

HANDS ON WORKSHOPS/Descriptions of Workshops Sha Sha has taught.
 BUILDING A MAGNIFICENT BODY SCULPTURE WITH SHA SHA HIGBY
Sha Sha Higby will share multiple aspects of her craft.Participants will explore the mysteries of creativity and performance in this on going hands-on sculptural mask making and dancing puppet workshop. Puppets give you an endless source of pleasure in their creation, theatrical imagery, and ability to transform and perform. We will also work primarily with threads and raffias in the masks for this class. Using intuition,movement,and poetry,you will be led through Sha Sha's process: a myriad of techniques for the construction of a puppet which can grow into a three- dimensional costume. Use it to help create your own performance temple,an archetypal spirit that you move within in a performance-like ritual . Learn to cast and mold, and recast,add hands and extensions, ornament inspired by the natural environment , enter another world. wild, powerful, humorous, and flamboyant. For the beginner and advanced.
International dance/performance/sculptural artist, Sha Sha Higby is known for her evocative and haunting performances.and for the exquisite and ephemeral body sculpture she creates and moves within.
To the workshop wear loose and dark clothing and a flash light, journal or colored construction paper,pastels,pliers,scissors,glue,brush,watercolors in pan,gloves,cardboard, masking tape,or ornamental yarns,beads,colored scraps of fabric,decorative bits of interesting forms you find around. Children are welcome.$65 material fee to Sha Sha for 5 days covers all sculptural and casting materials,crinoline,foils for decorating,dyes, patinas, silk and roving,elastic,cmc,wheat paste,paperclay,wires,colored tissue,metallic powders.glitters,brushes,clay epoxy,watercolors. and organic fibers etc.
Space should have water,place for stretching,cd tape player,tables,chairs,hot plate,sewing machine (optional,hairdryer,2-3 buckets,plastic cups,two bowls,spoons,25 lb of clay(op'l),roll of baling wire,quart of Durham's Rock hard water Putty for every 4-5 students.  Questions: 415-868-2409 shasha@shashahigby.com. People bring what they have of following (But all items are optional):stapler,pastels,wire cutters,20-22 gauge wire,scissors,tape,and any materials they find around the house that might make interesting forms and structure,grasses or pods from nature,cloth,feathers,etc,spray paint,electrical tape,glitters.
$5 material fee to Sha Sha covers special sculptural materials,molds,crinoline,fibers,foils for decorating,special glue sticks for 2-3 hour class. $15 for materials used in class for a full day class.
7-9 hours or this workshop may umbrella and include any of the workshops below as a series with the end result being a body and mask sculpture in performance.

VISUALIZING YOUR OWN MAGNIFICENT DOLL SCULPTURE.DOLL MAGIC on a STICK Doll, Mask and Movement Workshop
People interested in or crossing a variety of media: the visual arts, dance & theater are invited to attend. Beginners and experienced welcome. With simple to elaborate masks and dolls we make and cast ourselves,you will charge and magnify whichever part of the face and body you choose to have come alive.The mask becomes a doll which becomes a sculpture that can magically grow in any direction dreamed possible.We will each focus on a different spart of the body upon which to build our structures and them combine them all into one magnificent form at the end of the workshop. You will return home with a finished puppet-like structure that can to keep growiing in whatever way you dream possible.This workshop will follow with another one the next month for those who wish to continue.Within a kaleidoscope of poetic imagery as well as solid construction techniques for molds,masks,structure and costume, we have a base upon which to start a dramatic theatrical unfolding
To the workshop wear loose and dark clothing Bring a bag snack .Bring only if you have any or some of the following: twigs or grasses from the outdoors, colored paper,colored tissue paper, scraps of fabric,or yarn pastels,wire cutters,scissors,stapler, masking tape, thin or thick bailing wire, rubber bands. Sha Sha will bring special molding, crinoline,gold foils,and sculpting materials used in class.

"MASKS AND MAGIC"
Masks give you an endless source of pleasure in their creation, theatrical imagery, and even as doll -like images to display. Learn to cast and mold, and recast multiple versions,decorate,and pose a theatrical image. Wear loose clothing for a little movement.Bring your imagination and imagining a face you would like like to mold and cast..
$5 mat. fee per person to instructor for sculptural and metal leafing materials or bring (recycled) colored paper, scissors,cardboard,tape,pastel,or colored scraps of fabric. Space should provide CD Player,tarp,and a bucket of water,quart of Durhams Rock Hard Water Putty,spoon,recycled yogurt cups,decorating materials on hand.
2-3 Hours all ages /maximum 20-25 persons

"WIGGLING HEADS ON A STICK"
Performance artist, Sha Sha Higby will assist you to make and caste a simple head on a stick form utilizing corks and handmade springs which you can decorate and add whimsical projections to suit your own character.Some of them will be filled with seeds to make musical instruments to then bring and shake a musical delight at Sha Sha's show. These are some of the techniques for the props she uses in her performance.Sha Sha will guide you through several techniques she uses to create small masks and stick structure Bring at twigs from the outdoors,scissors,wire.
Space provide tables,tarp,2 buckets of water,used yogurt containers,spatula,small saw,cd player,bag of hard small beans (azuki),quart of Durhams Rock hard water putty,elmers white glue,glue gun,roll of black fencing(baling) wire, 1" dowels,or assortment of semi-straight branches
People to bring what they have of following:scissors,1/2" dowel or natural stick, cork,quick set epoxy,pliers,glue gun,spray paint,electrical tape,water soluble crayons,glitters,20-22 gauge wire,grasses or pods from nature,cloth,feathers,etc.
$8 material fee covers sculptural materials,foils for some decorating, springs, special glue sticks and glues,and any of the materials people were unable to bring
3 hour sessions-all ages 15-20 persons

"CAUGHT IN A BOX"
Masks give you an endless source of pleasure in their creation, theatrical imagery, and ability to transform them into small characters that come alive and perform. First Learn to cast and mold, and recast,add extensions,ornament,and enter a world where your handmade figure has its own life.It starts in its box.It can then grow out of its box. People can make their own performance vignettes separately or together This workshop will follow with another one the next month for those who wish to continue.Within a kaleidoscope of poetic imagery as well as solid construction techniques for molds,masks,structure and costume, we have a base upon which to start dramatic theater.Higby is known for her haunting performances in Elaborate Sculptural Costume which she has performed internationally and studied in Indonesia,India and Japan.at the critique ,the integrity of the short piece they present will be evaluated,such as;the creativity of the process in a short time period,the craftsmanship>
Bring a box, colored paper or cardboard, paper clay,scissors, masking tape,pastel crayons,or your own special colored bits of fabric,tissue paper,seeds,sticks,wire,interesting forms you find around.To the workshop wear loose and dark clothing Bring a bag snack .Bring what you have. There are no mistakes. Each thing you bring will lead to a new idea.Sha Sha will bring her molds and any special molding, crinoline,,and sculpting materials used in class.Her molds are latex,so we should handle them with care  

ROD PUPPETS
Performance artist, Sha Sha Higby will assist you to make a simple and natural white rod puppet form to which you can then attach many magnificent "other beings"(alter egos, & second natures)to then come alive and dance.
Sha Sha will guide you through several techniques she uses to create small masks ,inner structure ,and textures on fabric.The first week will be dedicated to building the basic body and movement of the puppet,the second week to its ornamentation,and the third week to its performance as integrated with your whole body.
Bring at least 8 twigs from the outdoors &1 yard of muslin or silk,scissors,wire,thread, and needle,and a small bag of stuffing. (Or these materials will be available for a $5. fee per class if you cannot bring anything).
3/3 hour sessions ideally /or a full afternoon.unless they bring them home and work on them between sessions-all ages

SOLAR MASKS ON A STICK
With small masks we make and cast, add extensions and decorate ourselves, each participant will make a puppet/doll-like figure mounted on a stick with solar gizmos that spin in the sun that we will combine into one magnifient form at the end of the workshop. You will return home with a puppet/doll like structure that can keep growing in whatever way you dream possible. With a kaleidoscope of poetic imagery as well as construction techniques for masks, structure and costume we will begin a base upon which to start a dramatic theatrical unfolding of creativity.Learn about the future and alternative energy as an artist does.Enjoy electricity by making jewelry powered by the sun.The jewelry can have little lights, miniature fans ,and gismos that can be powered like a battery filled with energy delivered by the sun. The materials are simple and cheap. All you need are some solar chips,scotch tape, wire, and a diode. The solar cells are iridescent and can be incorporated into the artwork. You can cut them into shapes too.$20-25. material fee. At least 6 hours
People should bring their own interesting stick (s)of any length and their own wild selection of decorative materials and a pair of scissors. Great for focused families.

HEADDRESS CONSTRUCTION
Learn the magic science of internal workings of costumes and headdressses that mold our fantasies together. Sha Sha will demonstrate/share her methods to hold costumes together so they remain firm and hardy yet appear delicate, and can't wiggle apart as much during performance. Learn the art of millinery with its silk wrapped wires,crimp clasps,sizings,buckrams,horsehair,and glues. Learn to solder,and some of the prosthetic high tech forming and molding materials as well as materials we can find to recycle into magnificent creatures.With this wisdom of stucture under your belt,your own headdresses and magical characters can grow in any direction imaginable!
If time permits,Sha Sha will share her methods for imaging a costume using stretches and movement.
2 hours minimum
Bring a shape to cast that you can stick a pin into (styrofoam,pillow covered with plastic),pins,scissors,1/2 yd. buckram (fabric store),or just watch the demonstration
3 Hours

RARE WORKSHOP in TRADITIONAL JAPANESE URUSHI LACQUER (Upon Request)
This is a rare opportunity to discover the aspects of a highly refined and 8000 year old craft of working with the almost magical sap of the Urushi tree. Famed as a traditional adhesive and coating in Asia and Southeast Asia,the urushi processes demonstrated can be used to apply an incredibly durable,transparent or colored opaque surface to a wide range of materials. It can be used to build up sculptural forms,or develop an extraordinary palette of decorative finishes with gold powder,leaf, and shell for makie.Demonstration of basic handling and drying techniques,Toumei Tosou or Kiji Tamenuri-clear wood grain coating, Futoumei Tosou or Inpei Tosou, opaque texture of Sitaji coating, gold leaf application, and the making of clay.There will be time for questions.This informative workshop will broaden your understanding of adhesives, and allow you to peek into the richness and depth of this incredible art form and perhaps wet your palette for further study in Japan.Special guests from Japan can also be arranged to enhance these workshops.Check out www.sakurako.com .

MILLEFIORE,MARBELED MASKS AND MOLDS
It's like making cookies!Join Sha Sha for Italian millefiore techniques using natural clays,stains in clay (or polymer clays) that we can later fire. Bring a bowl or hollow shape to lay your clay into,or cut,slice,and shape your clay into one of Sha Sha's magical masks molds.
1 1/2 -3 hours

PAPERMAKING-SPECIAL EFFECTS USING LUSTER PIGMENTS
Bring your recycled non-glossy papers you get in your mailbox, and we will grind them up in the blender. Make perfect works of texture upon which you can draw a mask. We will learn to tint and color paper pulp, and experiment with layered iridescent lusters over the colored surface of the paper.
$3-5 materials fee.
Time : 3 hours:

SUMI-NAGASHI ON FABRIC
LECTURE- DEMONSTRATION:
Sumi-nagashi,a traditional Japanese fabric marbeling,creates designs suggestive of tree bark,wood grain,or wind on water. We use tightly woven fabrics (e.g. china silk,rayon challis,cotton) and float pigments on water,fanning it to create a final design. This is an easy process,also applicaable to paper. A
variety of silks will be available for sale . Materials fee $10. to instructor
1 1/2 hr. demo/3-5 hr hands on

BOMAKI-POLE WRAPPING ON SILK
This class will cover the Japanese silk dying technique of "Arashi-Shibori" or "Bomaki", translated as "Polewrapping". The silk is wound around a cylindar,wrapped, and twisted into pleats,and then dip dyed and painted with dyes. The pleated results are reminiscent of natural textures,such as tree bark and snake skin, and are sculpturally gratifying. The cloth produced can be made into scarves, artwork,or anything you imagine.
1 yard lengths of 4" ABS pipe from the hardware store recommended. $10. material fee

SLIPPER THEATER
This class will give you a taste of all the techniques Sha Sha uses in her costumes.Join Sha Sha Higby,and build a tiny set of fabulous fanciful dancing shoes. Make the heals,and build the form with heat shrink fabrics,and glues from the millinery and prosthetic trades. We will then bead and decorate the body of the miniature shoe. Bring any ornamental materials,glitter,feathers, and music that you would like to go with your shoe. The shoe could even be selected to participate in Sha Sha's performance!
$8. materials fee

LECTURE- DEMONSTRATION:
GOLDEN FOILS AND REACTIVE METALS DEMONSTRATION
Time: 2 hours
Sha Sha will demonstrate the application of gold leaf and foils to different surfaces as well as simple patinas she uses in her work. A demonstration of heat coloration and anodizing of reactive metals will be given.

LECTURES:

THREADS OF OTHER CULTURES INFLUENCE THE ARTIST
Time: 1 hour
Sha Sha will show slides of her experiences in Indonesia, of the batik and puppetry traditions she found there and how it gradually started to influence her later to become transformed into her art form - a marriage between the artist and the outer world. She will show slides of her journeys recording the batik factories in Central Java, Indonesia. She will also show some slides of her own work.
Time 50 minutes
THE ARTIST'S WORK

Sculpture Schedule Biography Interview
Performances Workshops Press Room Mailing List
　 Shop Membership 日本語 Cottage Copyright © 2008 Sha Sha Higby

How to cast a mask Copyright © 2008 Sha Sha Higby