Exhibit Opening Reception: Mas: Carnival Costumes from Hartford’s West Indian Community

We invite you to join us for the Opening Reception for Mas: Carnival Costumes from Hartford’s West Indian Community.

The Mas: Carnival Costumes from Hartford’s West Indian Community exhibit showcases Trinidad-style carnival costumes (Mas) made by Hartford teens during the summer 2018 Mas Camp, the eighth year of a collaboration of the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program (CCHAP) and the Connecticut International Cultural Carnival Association (CICCA) under the direction of Linford “Junior” Miller. The colorful and elaborate costumes on display are similar to those worn in West Indian celebrations around the world, and will be presented by the teens at Hartford’s Taste of the Caribbean Festival and the West Indian Parade this summer.

The exhibit features costumes from teen participants, who have spent six weeks learning how to design and make the costumes under the guidance of master costume maker Keimani “Q” Delpeche. Dance teacher Clerona Cain trained the students in “displaying” their costumes in the West Indian Independence Parade and Festival. Each teen designed and built a complete costume, including headpiece, arm and foot bands, girdles, collars, backpacks, and all frames and attachments needed for wearing the elaborate structures.

The Mas Camp program trains Hartford teens in artistic activities important to their cultural heritage. The program also encourages job readiness skills such as collaboration, financial literacy, creativity, and attention to detail.

The exhibit opening will also mark the graduation of the 25 teens involved in Mas Camp, and they will perform their dance routine at the event.

The Mas Camp program is supported by the Greater Hartford Arts Council and the City of Hartford; the National Endowment for the Arts; the CT Office of the Arts/DECD; the West Indian Foundation, the West Indian Independence Celebration, the UConn Caribbean Interdisciplinary Research and Outreach Institute, and UConn’s El Instituto/the Institute for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

This event is free and open to the public.

Please let us know if you are able to join us by August 17. Call (860) 236-5621 or email rsvp@chs.org.