This is a tribute to the Portland, Oregon woman who confronted federal “troops” during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. While some chose rocks and bottles to challenge authorities, she wore her nakedness as a mask of courage to confront the federal troops.
This sculpture is both a figure and a mask. The nature of a mask is twofold. It can disguise the wearer to conceal her/his identify. Or, it can amplify an archetypal quality. The Mask of Athena is a reminder that we can choose to confront injustice and absurd abuse of power. It doesn’t take a shield or a sword or rocks and bottles. It just takes the courage to expose the naked truth.