New art exhibit featuring rare masks opens in downtown Aurora

Tracey Sherman-Falcon of Aurora likes to come and see every exhibit offered at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center in downtown Aurora and wasn’t going to miss a new one that opened Aug. 21.

“I’m definitely a frequent flyer and like to come to every exhibit they have,” Sherman-Falcon said while exploring “Masks: Identity In Diversity,” a new exhibit which will run through Nov. 1 at the center at 20 E. Downer Place.

Aurora’s Public Art Division unveiled the exhibit, which features over 60 artists along with a rare mask collection provided by the Federation of Michoacan Clubs in Illinois.

“I appreciate that these artifacts are representing the Mexican culture which is nearly half of Aurora,” Sherman-Falcon said, calling the exhibit “impressive.”

“I hope that many people come and visit this and it opens their eyes,” Sherman-Falcon said.

Curator Sangeeta Pande said the new exhibit is “an initiative that has been going on for the last year-and-a-half.”

“We’ve been in conversation with the Michoacan Federation and there was a collaborative display here from them in 2023, and we’re really excited that they’re coming back after three years with a completely different exhibit,” she said. “We have a lot of folk masks and a lot of traditional art from the Michoacan.

“I’m also a first-generation immigrant myself so I feel some of the struggles when I look at the art that’s coming from those regions and masks have always been instruments of fascination,” Pande said. “You can hide behind some harsh truths or you can actually remove them and show what’s going on.”

Mike Clark of Aurora said he likes to come to all the exhibits at the facility in downtown Aurora and said that the new display “sounded interesting.”

“I heard it was about Mexican masks. I know there is a deep cultural connection with them,” Clark said. “I’m aware of them in different cultures like in the traditional Mardi Gras. It allows people to play different characters and allows them to be more creative.”

Betty Schaefer of Montgomery likes to stop by when there is something new at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center.

“I like the masks,” Schaefer said. “I’m from Mexico and the state where these are made, from Michoacan, and I’m kind of familiar with some of them. Some of them, they use it for a dance and act like they are old. I saw these as a kid when I was growing up. It’s a different form of art — a different expression.”

David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.