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 2019 Mas Camp, the ninth year of a collaboration between 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 will spend six weeks learning how to design and make the costumes under the guidance of master costume maker Keimani “Q” Delpeche. 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.

This event is free and open to the public.

Please let us know if you are able to join us by August 13. Call (860) 236-5621 or email rsvp@chs.org.

With support from:

Ensworth Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee