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Live Free or Die

At first I was taken aback to learn the New Hampshire state motto, “Live Free or Die” but as I near the completion of my residency at the Currier – I reflect on the diverse range of communities I have come across and worked with in Manchester, the nature of social practice art and the sacrifices needed to serving new communities through art.

Here are the remainder of Green Mask project workshops including the end of Creative Connections for Teens class, Currier Staff day and Art of Hope. The Art of Hope program provides support for family members whose loved ones suffer from substance use disorder.

Here is the final Green Mask project exhibition on display into January 2023.

@erikotsogo

The completed “Green Mask Project” exhibition at the Currier Museum of Art featuring four large scale Currier Totem sculptures and an array of identity masks made by the greater New Hampshire communities. ♻️ Green Mask Project is a multi-faceted eco-inspired social practice project exploring individual and collective identities through a combination of sustainable mask masking methods using recycled and upcycled materials. Green Mask is designed to help promote sustainability, social equity, diversity and inclusion through art making, sharing stories, building community and collective empowerment. ♻️ The identity mask workshops seek to challenge how we perceive ourself and thereby others in relation to place and environment. The final recycled mask creations become mirrors that invite the viewer to see themselves in the sameness we share, invoking connectivity in the sameness that we all share beyond social barriers. Green Mask project is a call for coexistence, for a more greener world in which individuals can unite in celebration of our distinctions and of our common humanity. #greenmask #greenmaskproject #curriermuseum #curriertotem #totemsculptures #eco #ecofriendly #ecoart #sustainability #sustainableart #socialpractice #identity #masks #recycledart #recycling #sharingstories #communitybuilding #collectiveempowerment #newhampshire #manchester #livefreeordie

♬ The sound of the forest of nature 5 minutes(1025387) – RAYSIA SOUND

Another outing highlight has been visiting the Andres Institute of Art, New Englands largest sculpture park in Brookline.

@erikotsogo

Andres Institute of Art: New England’s largest outdoor sculpture park featuring over 100 permanent sculptures by local and international artists. #andresinstituteofart #sculpturepark #newengland #brookline

♬ Dreams – Vanilla

Green Mask project has been a big feat to take on, but I feel satisfied with the ending outcome of how the totem sculptures and the individual identity masks turned out to be. The diversity and energy of the communities that I served here and the kindness of the museum staff have propelled me through the last six weeks. I have learned so much during my time in Manchester and look forward to taking all that I have gained from this project into my next residency and solo exhibition at Platteforum taking place from January-March 2023.

elaborate?