October 1, 2025 - October 31, 2025

The Blue Hill Public Library will present a new art show, “mal-le-a-ble:” leather masks by Tammy Bernard and metal art by Tanya Washburn, during the month of October. The public is invited to a reception for the show on Friday, October 17 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Tammy Bernard says, “I’ve always loved how masks spark such a wide range of reactions across every culture—whether it’s awe, delight, laughter, or sometimes even fear.” She has loved masks since she was a kid begging for, and getting, a Wonder Woman mask one Halloween. Tammy started making leather masks, learning by trial and error, after visiting a Renaissance fair where she was captivated by all the beautiful leather work. She said, “The masks, especially, caught my eye. There’s something wonderful about how masks help you let go of your inhibitions and explore a whole new side of yourself. They invite you to be daring, playful, silly, or mysterious—whatever you’re in the mood for!” She says that her process is first turning an idea into a sketch, drawn and scaled to size, and then it is traced onto a template. She uses leather that is vegetable tanned—one of the oldest methods of tanning, because it is easily moldable.

According to Tanya Washburn, she uses a range of processes for her metal work, including saltwater & chemical salt etching, chasing and repoussé, forging, piercing, and more. The possibilities and combinations are endless, and pieces are made with one or more techniques. Then there are the applied patinas made by using flame painting, liver of sulfur, and other chemical processes to achieve different colorations. She uses copper, brass, bronze, nickel silver, and steel sheet metal for these wall art pieces. Tanya says, “I will often go to metal scrap yards to rummage through bins of metal which have been turned in for recycling.  From an early age I was enthralled with metal objects, from gold rings to forged iron latches. I went from polishing relatives’ jewelry at family reunions as a teenager to bench jeweler’s instruction in my early 20s, then straight into a blacksmithing apprenticeship. In the decades since then, I have kept my hands busy with techniques ranging from jewelry fabrication to forged copper dishes. Most of my inspiration derives from nature, Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts styles, and ancient art.”

The name of the show, “mal-le-a-ble,” refers to the materials used to make the two artists’ artworks—leather and sheet metal.

malleable-

• (of a metal or other material) able to be hammered or pressed permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking:

According to Tammy & Tanya, in a time when people are often being pushed to their limit, they feel that it is important to remain supple under pressure, like the media they work with, and to not allow the powers that be to break their spirits.

The exhibit will be available for viewing starting October 1 in the library’s Britton Gallery and Roland Howard Meeting Room, subject to the meeting room schedule. For more information, call the library at 374-5515.