Masks for a Masquerade

Lovers of art and parties, we are very excited to tell you about a special art installation currently on display at Gallery Erato. What does this have to do with parties, you ask? We’ll get to that shortly. But first, let’s talk about our Wall of Masks by artist James Corey.

James Corey's Wall of Masks from SEAF 2021. A grey wall with 120 leather masks in various colors hung as an installation at the 2021 Seattle Erotic Art Festival. A couple in black and red stand before it, their backs to the camera.

You may remember James from SEAF 2021, where he first debuted his Wall of Masks as an installation. James Corey is a leather mask maker from Seattle who has made over 1400 masks since March 2019. The mask making process every day allows them to turn their anxiety, fear, and self-doubt daily into something true, beautiful, and good. This practice emerged out of a confluence of events in 2018: A Commedia dell’Arte mask making workshop in Florence, their entry into Jungian psychotherapy, and a necessity to take their hypomania, or extra energy, and channel it into a creative outlet.​

Gallery Erato’s Wall of Masks

In preparation for Seduction, our annual sexy Halloween shindig, we asked James to come back and make another wall for us, this time in Gallery Erato. The Wall of Masks will remain up through the month of October. Starting this week at First Thursday, and every Thursday until Seduction, you are invited to come see the wall and buy one of the masks. We’ll let you take it right away! Each mask, in addition to being a unique work of art, comes with a ticket to Seduction: The Masquerade of Shadows. Yes, every mask. Yes, even if the website says Seduction is sold out.

So if you were looking for some costume inspiration, we’ve got you. Come to Gallery Erato any Thursday in October. Pick out a mask from the wall, and take it home immediately. You need time to plan your outfit, after all! And then join us on October 19.

Gallery Erato is located at 309 1st Ave S. Seattle, WA 98104. Open hours are noon until 6pm on Thursdays, or by appointment. Email us ([email protected]) to schedule your viewing.