Behind the Mask

You might remember two issues back when we told you about the mask Cirque makeup artist Nathalie Gagne painted for sale at an Internet fundraising auction for The Hospice of Metro Denver. And the high bid? The mask ended up selling for more than $1,000.00 USD, easily in the “Top 5” of all the masks offered, according to the folks we spoke with. But what surprised us most was the man who purchased it and his plans for the mask, as he revealed in a talk with us.

Don Wollenzien and his wife Marie have lived in the Denver area since 1960 and have a 34-year old son. Back in May, 2003 Marie was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, several hospital stays involving radiation and chemotherapy treatments failed to set the cancer into remission. It soon became obvious that she was in the last stages of her illness and needed a facility for her final days. The facility they chose was the The Hospice of Metro Denver. Sadly, Marie passed away in October, 2003.

Marie always had a fondness for clowns. “My front bathroom is wallpapered in clowns,” says Don. But neither of them was aware of Cirque du Soleil. When The Mask Project to benefit the hospice was announced, Don visited the website and looked through the offerings. Seeing the Nathalie Gagne mask, with its multi-colored hues and peaceful closed-eyes expression, Don thought, “Wow, that’s something I think I want.”

According to Gagne (as discussed in the original Cirque Club article), the mask is imbued with inspirational bits from several Cirque shows: “From its bluish mouth, you will hear the colours of Quidam. Through its eyes, you will taste the blue of “O”. With its long black eyelashes, you will be tickled by the soft caresses of Zumanity. Its yellowish and red colours will transport you into the kaleidoscopic world of Varekai and Mystère. Its bright red nose will recall the tenderness of Yuri, the Alegría clown. A small tear of joy is shed for memories of La Nouba, and the piece is set off with a few multi-colored feathers plucked from a future show, now growing within a fertile womb.” You can see a picture of the mask at the following address:< http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/clubcirque/ news/news71.htm >

It seemed to Don to be the perfect way to honor the memory of his late wife, while at the same time making a donation to a worthy organization. “As well as they treated her, it’s well worth it.” He started bidding in the mid $500.00 range, but wavered when the price began to escalate. But toward the end of the auction he decided to “go for it” and placed the high bid of $1,010.00.

He has had it framed in a shadow box with mattes of red and blue. (The framing bill alone came to more than $350.00.) In a fitting tribute, the mask will hang on the wall of their family room next to the chair where Marie often sat.

What a story, and we’re grateful to Mr. Wollenzien for taking the time to talk with us. One would not normally think that Cirque Du Soleil could provide the impetis for such a beautiful tribute. But it goes to show how the beauty and power of Cirque can bring peace and solice to a saddened household.