Whimsical masks at Toymaker's

FALLS VILLAGE — A show of Maggie Quinn’s “winged messenger†masks is on display at the Toymaker’s Cafe through Sunday, Feb. 21.

The masks are made of pheasant wing feathers, and they are meant to be worn.

“Birds wear them,†pointed out Quinn last Friday at the show’s opening. “They’re not fragile.â€

Quinn, from Bethany, Conn., taught costume and production design at the Yale Drama School, and has been making the masks for about 30 years.

This is her first commercial show. She was invited to display her work by her friends Greg and Anne Bidou, who own the cafe.

A close look at the masks reveals not only the intricate layering of the feathers, but also the highly changeable color schemes. Like birds in flight, the masks look different depending on how the light is hitting them. They reward repeated inspection.

The masks start at $95.

For more information, call the cafe at 860-824-8168 or visit wingedmessenger.deviantart.com/gallery.