Of all the various activities I had planned for kids in the lead up to our Europe trip, none excited me more than the mask making workshop at Ca’ Macana. We researched the workshop before we left (there are some excellent resources online, including fascinating Youtube videos about the history of the shop), learned a bit about the different types of masks (bauta, medico della peste, moretta, gnaga – the cat mask, Columbina and so on) and reserved our place for a mask making session (advisable, as they were quite busy).
Even with that build up, the experience did not disappoint!
A mask from Ca’ Macana is the real deal. The workshop was established fairly recently, in 1984, but that’s one of the things I love about it. It’s not a novelty replica of the mask making workshops of the past. Rather, it takes the traditional skills and traditions of historical mask making and adapts them to the modern world. This, I find, makes their masks feel so much more authentic and true to our times, while still being connected to the long history of Venetian mask making. (Don’t miss snail-head man – he is truly awesome!)
The mask making space is separate to the shop, and has the look and feel of a functioning workshop – which is to say, it is a delightful mess, smells like paint and lacquer, and there was a general air of excitement at being allowed inside.
Our marvelous helper was obviously a mask maker herself and deeply passionate about it. She gave the children the technical instruction they needed to let their imaginations run wild – when my 5 year old decided to cover her carefully painted green mask in black and gold swirls, she cheered her on and applauded the final product! No judgment… instead, a little bit of freedom and decadence, as in the days of old.
This was a brilliant way for the kids to spend a couple of hours in Venice. Aside from the excitement of the activity itself, the historical and educational element and the fact that it gave them a much needed respite after hours of walking around and sightseeing, our masks are probably our favourite souvenirs from our European travels.
Ca’ Macana: https://www.camacana.com/
Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JhHNoA5rUY
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