CLIENT

Craft & Folk Art Museum

TIME FRAME

1980 - 1994

LOCATION

Los Angeles, CA

SERVICE PROVIDED

Events & Festivals

Events & Festivals

Festival of Masks

From 1980 to 1994, Community Arts Resources (CARS) worked on each of the renowned Festival of Masks events which was founded in 1976 by Edith Wyle, the visionary director of the Craft and Folk Art Museum (now known as the Craft Contemporary). This multicultural festival became a national model for breaking down barriers in an ethnically diverse metropolis. The two-day festival included crafts and merchandise booths, food booths presented by local churches and community organizations and world-class performances. The Mask Festival featured the closing of Wilshire Boulevard for the beloved Parade of Masks – a colorful extravaganza, with up to two thousand participants and 20,000 spectators that marched down Wilshire Boulevard through the heart of the Miracle Mile. 

Katie Bergin served as Associate Director of the Festival from 1980 through 1984 and was assisted by Jan Ellenstein. In 1988, the festival was directed by Aaron Paley with assistance from Jan Ellenstein and Linda Yudin who interned with the festival. 

From 1991-1994 CARS directed the Parade of Masks and introduced several innovations. Artist educators in the fields of music, choreography, and crafts were placed in residency at elementary schools around the City to develop the parade skills of participating classes. CARS also invited Michelle Berne of Celebration Arts to serve as artistic director for the parade, bringing her experience as a celebration artist and as the former artistic director of the Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Parade.