"Merimask Designs" is Andrea Masse-Tognetti, a self-representing artist from western New York. Andrea is self taught in the art of leather maskmaking and has been working exclusively with leather sculpture for over twenty years.
Frivole
In 2006, Merimask created several designs for Cirque Du Soleil. Currently, a synthetic version of her mask "Frivole" is in mass production and available in Cirque Du Soleil gifts shops everywhere.
In 2008, Andrea was invited to create over fifty exclusive masks for the Muscle Musical production "Magicarade", in Tokyo Japan. She appeared on several national Japanese television shows with her masks throughout the 2008-2009 holiday season.
Magicarade
Magicarade
In 2009, Merimask Designs created masks for several stage productions in the United States, including the Jacksonville Nutcracker Ballet in Florida and the Circus Juventas production of "Yulong" in Minneapolis.
Rat Queen
Yulong Red Dragon
In October of 2009, Andrea appeared on the Martha Stewart Show and demonstrated her mask-making technique on live national television. You can see the video here.
Golden Unicorn
In 2010, Merimask Designs was commissioned to create several wolf masks for Halloween season window displays throughout the United States. The masks were featured in Ralph Lauren Rugby store windows everywhere.
In 2011, A quartet of Merimask's white wolves were featured in an international cosmetics advertising campaign. The wolf masks were used in a fashion photo shoot for Lise Watier Cosmetiques "Neiges" perfume, shot in Toronto. The advertisements appeared throughout Canada during the 2011 holiday season. You can view exclusive videos of the shoot here:
In 2011, Andrea designed four owl masks for an up and coming UK hip-hop group called The Four Owls. Currently, the masks can be seen in performances and videos all throughout Europe and the UK.
Video for the second single 'Not Like Before', taken from 'The Four Owls' debut album 'Nature's Greatest Mystery' on High Focus Records, 5th December. Video directed, filmed and edited by Harry Wheeler.
Also in 2011, Andrea's white fox mask was featured in an independent film;
"White Fox Mask". A GWYCKY FILMS production - official website here.
Currently, in the summer of 2012, Andrea has been commissioned to produce designs for the Metropolitan Opera...details to be announced.
