A day in Ca´ Del Sol Maschere

Venetian mask, their tradition, and mystery. There are never enough words to describe a variety of masks, but I would like to take you to one beautiful place and to show you a couple of images from this special atelier.

Atelier Ca Del Sol is a collective of artists creating in Venice, inspired by Venice. The place is famous for its mask shops and carnival tradition.

But do masks still have a place in today´s society?

As the person coming from the performing arts, I would say yes, definitely. It enables to describe, create, change character, or to create the mystery of the person behind that.

Moreover, we know so many interesting facts, about how powerful it is to have the option to be transformed into something new by putting the mask on. There are also many initiatives around the world, using the mask as a helpful object during psychology treatment – for example, aftershock, or in the attempt to heal depression.

Away from depression, back to joy. For those who are visiting Venice, visiting the mask shop is a cultural must. Not only because it is a must, but because it is a place where this tradition was being part of daily life and its historical traditions. Mask is also important today, with huge waves of tourists, eager to buy souvenirs.

Let me stop here a bit and inspire you to visit real mask shops and not to buy plastic fake objects. You can perhaps save a couple of euros, but in the longer term, you are not purchasing quality, and you are not purchasing the artistic object.

While buying the handcrafted mask, perhaps seeing its creation, learning about it can be an interesting and enriching experience. Additionally, mask makers are usually offering various types of objects – from masks, costume parts, small carnival jewelry. That means you can buy a luxurious handmade mask and accompany it with the costume, or to buy some small item for joy and you would know, that you support local micro business and you keep the tradition alive.

Here come a few pictures and notes about mask making process in Ca Del Sol, with the hope they would inspire you for your next visit.

Ca del Sol is one of the most famous and elaborated, also one of the most beautiful mask shops. Its history comes back to ...

Let me announce the moment : if you can turn on this music, it would bring you closer to this atelier ( as there is always some great master music on! )

Bach - Hopkinson Smith - Suites n°1, 2, 3

... comes back to the year 1986, when they opened the atelier and also doors to the public to share mask making process and showing creations. You can visit this beautiful place full of art at the address

Ca´Del Sol

Castello 4964, 30122 Venezia

It is not far from one of the most frequent Vaporetto stops San Zaccaria and only a few minutes walking from Basilica di San Marco.

Get ready for the number of masks, where you can choose the one you would love to wear, or to have it as a decoration, or to purchase it as a gift.

Moreover, you can take part in the demonstration of how the traditional Venetian masks are being made, how they do that and to see an artist in the process. For deeper learning, it is also possible to book mask making and decoration workshop.

All the information and contact is visible on the Ca´ Del Sol website http://www.cadelsolmascherevenezia.com/en

or you can visit the atelier and ask your questions.

I had the opportunity to not only visit Ca´ Del Sol, and to see them working, but also attended the mask making process. From what I have seen, these artists are dedicated, passionate and are happy to share their knowledge and passion.

If you find this similar to yourself, this place is a top notch.

There are various techniques to decorate masks – collage, decoupage, painting with acrylic color, antique effect, ceramic effect, gloss.

„ Mask is just like Venice.

Every art phenomenon is the mirror of the city where it is created“.

This is why there are so many mask shops in Venice. The base of the mask is rather cheap and simple materials – but you can create magnificent results with usage of different materials on the top or around it.

Every mask and its finishing is an original creation so you cannot find 2 completely the same, as they are handcrafted so a tiny details make the difference.

Series of steps, starting with applying layer of natural paper, with glue mixture, applying into form, letting to dry. Waiting. Cutting the mask out, painting with color, decorating, or covering mask with fabric, lace. Both possible to create mask only with tiny thin wire, with additional diamonds or other iron decorative parts.

This art remains for of beauty that can be re- found every day. Everybody can get in touch with it and observe, or to try on its own.

Hopefully you gained some curiosity, or some respect to people who are creating masks like these and making it as it is part of their life.

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Masks, hospitality by Ca´Del Sol Maschere Venezia

Photos, text Karolinska 2019