Artist John Lyall Takes a Workshop
Artist John Lyall took a mask-making workshop with the Leading a Creative Life class this morning.
As John says, a mask can disguise you and it can also reveal who you really are.
John Lyall is a big public gallery artist. He has exhibited here and internationally (you can Google him). He does major installations, sculpture, poetry and lots of photography and drawing, as well as bonsais.
In 2006 he had a series of strokes, three of them severe. He can no longer drive and you may have seen him getting around town on his recumbent tricycle. John has ridden it around Mt Cook, The Hermitage, Nelson and may other areas, including the Karangahape Gorge mountain bike trail.
After riding down a volcano really fast, John ended up in hospital. When he recovered, he bought an even faster trike. His current one has 30 gears.

Image: Guy Seanyear

Image: Allyson Hamblett

Image: Allan Mills

Image: Leonie and Nigel Clunie

Image: Sunil Kankanangme

Image: Claire with her mask.
It even has a nose ring.
Leading a Creative Life is comprised of artists who have experienced strokes, so John was an understanding and inspiring tutor for the morning. He had the artists make masks with cardboard and hot glue guns.
Everyone, including John, had a great deal of fun. There was a lot of laughter. The masks were imaginative, creative and revealing.
We look forward to having John back in the studio.