Prosthetics to Special Effects: Life Mask Creation

This exhibit is based on the course Eye, Ear, Nose: Prosthetics. Prosthetics includes the field of anaplastology, a branch of medicine dealing with the prosthetic replacement or correction of an absent, disfigured, or malformed anatomic structure, usually on the face or limbs. Focusing on maxillofacial prosthetics and ocular prosthetics (artificial eyes), students create life masks on which orbitals, (containing artificial eyes), noses and ears can be modeled, cast and produced. The same basic technical skills learned in the course can also be applied to the special effects industry. A presentation of images from the class that go beyond what can be demonstrated in the exhibit will run throughout the festival. Students will work in teams, demonstrating facial casting in the creation of life masks. A new casting will begin on the half hour. The first twelve people to register can leave the festival with a cast of their face. For the under 18 crowd, digits will be cast and everyone (including the adults) can leave with a 'thumb-on-a-stick'.