The Daily from Ball State Unified Media
COMMUNITIES

Living Form: The man behind the masks

Jonathan Becker has devoted his life to the study of theater and masks

<p>Jonathan Becker carves a clay mold at his studio in Muncie March 25 that will eventually be cast and become a mask. <strong>J.A. Fields, DN</strong></p>

Jonathan Becker carves a clay mold at his studio in Muncie March 25 that will eventually be cast and become a mask. J.A. Fields, DN

Behind a layer of synthetic rubber and paint, Jonathan Becker gains a greater understanding of himself and the world around him. 

From his three-story home in downtown Muncie, Becker runs the North American Laboratory of the Performing Arts (NALPA) where he houses artists and makes masks.

“Theater has always been a really serious thing for me; it’s always been a place that I felt at home,” Becker said. “I’ve tried to escape it a number of times in my adult life, and I can never really get away; I’m always pulled back into it.

“I’ve found over the years that it’s something that I actually need in order to find fulfillment and to kind of survive my day … it’s the only place where I find that I’m confronted with myself constantly, and so I have the opportunity to grow and come to a greater understanding of me, but more importantly then apply that to the understanding of others.”

When he moved into his home eight years ago, Becker saw the potential the house had to cultivate artistry and founded NALPA to invite others to use the space to create, explore and connect through the arts.

On the third floor is a studio that is sometimes used for performances or other artistic projects. Most often, however, the space is used by Becker to create theatrical masks.



Read the Entire Story

Read More

Comments

More from The Daily

Connect with The Daily

Sponsored Stories

More from our partners

This Week's Digital Issue

Loading Recent Classifieds...