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LAURA GOODRICH: MASKS — May 5 - July 15, 2011
The Design Gallery at Design Quest exhibits the work of Grand Rapids artist, Laura Goodrich.
Mask maker Laura Hutton Goodrich has brought characters alive for the Grand Rapids Civic Theater and the Grand Rapids Ballet through the
use of her unique talents for almost 30 years. "It's completely creative," she says, noting that each of her pieces is a visual interpretation of
the character.
Because performance needs vary and she likes to experiment, Laura's technique and media are always changing. She uses materials like
Mylar for shiny pieces, but often employs plain paper stock. On a quest to improve ventilation for ballet dancers, she began using imported
embroidery netting, which she says works wonderfully. Laura also uses an airbrush to enrich detail work on the surface when a structure is
complete.
Although every piece is unique, Laura strives for a consistent quality throughout her work. A self-proclaimed perfectionist, she is never
satisfied, suffering through each detail and often doing things over and over again to get everything just right.
Laura studied fine arts at the Art Institute of Chicago, the American Academy and Chicago Academy before moving to California, where she
participated in arts shows at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. After moving to Grand Rapids, a new venture began when she received a
frantic call for an artist to do an assortment of animal masks for a production of Tarradiddle Tales. Laura was persuaded to take on the
challenge. More volunteer work painting scrims and backgrounds at the Civic Theater followed.
When the Civic Theater's Wizard of Oz production needed an impressive five-foot-high wizard head that could speak and blow smoke, Laura
designed and had it constructed. She went on to create six horse heads for Equus, a horse for Hello Dolly, and Nana, the family dog for Peter
Pan. Several ice hockey teams commissioned her for their mascots, as did WOOD TV for the creation of Willie Wood. The Grand Rapids
Civic Ballet commissioned her for the Nutcracker head and mice for the Nutcracker Ballet, followed by Alice for the ballet Alice, (based on
Alice in Wonderland).
Recently, Laura has become interested in the brilliant colors and shapes of insect heads. When modeled, they "take on a life of their own
and have a lot of my life inside of them," she says.
Laura Goodrich on exhibit in the Design Gallery
Dollies Horse
HELLO DOLLY- Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Close up view of Dollies Horse
HELLO DOLLY- Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Gray Cat
Scientific Dog #1 (left); Uncle Thomas (right)
THE KING AND I: Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
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Frog Face
From the Insect Series
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Jabberwocky Dragon
Alice in Wonderland: GRCT
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Bruno Bear (left); Lendora (center back); Monkey (right)
TARADIDDLE TALES: Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
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Ground Beetle
From the Insect Series
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Pink Dragonfly
From the Insect Series
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Bruno Bear (center); Monkey (right)
TARADIDDLE TALES: Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
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L'oiseau (bird)
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Lendora
TARADIDDLE TALES: GRCT
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Female (left) and Male (right) Hindu Dancers
Grand Valley State University
African Beetle
From the Insect Series
Sheep
FIVE MINUTE TIL MORNING: Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Ground Beetle
From the Insect Series
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