Lucrecia Novoa.
She is a Chilean artist and cultural educator. Director and Founder of “Mascara Viva Puppeteers”.
She uses a combination of masks, puppets, costumes, storytelling and dance to interpret the folk traditions of many cultures. She believes the art education must be an strong component of the people's lives and they need to be motivated not only intellectual level but should also receive tools that enhance their creative minds and personal talents.
She has been working with the community of NY, CT, MA and VT using different materials and techniques introducing the students to the imaginary word.
Lucrecia' s passion is not only focused on art education. She works in Giants pieces and the nature of each piece is different and this determines the choice of materials. Once the ideas have crystallized, she build the Character . This creative process ends when the character interacts with the viewer.
She has exhibited her Masks and Characters in different Galleries and performing regularly in different events.
She studied at Fine Art School in the University of Chile and Massachusetts College of Art.
1996, she attended the "Art of Mask" course in Massachusetts offered by the Mask maker Eric Bornstein and this was a turning point in her career, under Eric’s guidance she learned not only techniques of mask and puppet making but also how to mold gestures and expressions into the masks.
1997,she joined Eric's Behind the Mask studio in Cambridge, MA. She started working in pieces that represent technical challenges. She was Eric's assistant creating masks and Puppets for the First Night Parade in Boston, participating in several workshops in Schools and Universities. She also was part of the theater play shows for "Behind the mask theater" ( A theater Company based in Cambridge MA)
1998 – 2001, she joined the Holistic meditation group Dahn Kahn based in ancient Korean techniques.
2002- 2009, she joined the Hapkido Martial Arts in NY. Both experiences were very good connected with the purpose of her work. Making the character move and interacting in a gently and graciously way.
2002 to the present, she has been working as artist in residence for Society of the Educational Art (SEA) in NY City.
2004 to the present, she has been the Director and designer of the Masks and Puppets workshops for Earth Celebration Organization in NY City.
2013 to the present, she is the Director and Founder of “ Mascara Viva Puppeteer ”
2013 to the present, she has been designing and puppeteering her work on the Botanical Garden Events in NY City
2018 to the present, she has been working as artist in residence for Loisaida Center in NY City