Jeff Semmerling, cofounder of the Inside Out Art Studio on the corner of Montrose and Damen, is truly a man of many faces. As a mask and puppet maker, Jeff shares the power of personification with the Chicago community. His humorous style and love for storytelling was cultivated by his father, who had a strong desire to “instigate public fun”, an attitude which Jeff considers revolutionary in today's highly structured culture.

After studying theater, clowning in Great America's Circus, and acting in a Comedia Del Arte troop on the Renaissance Faire circuit, Jeff began to realize the impact that masks can create in performance. He began constructing his own creations and selling them to fair-goers. During a stint in New Orleans, studying under a master feather mask maker who referred to himself as “a queer with a hot glue gun,” Jeff's talents earned him a loyal following of Mardi Gras devotees.

When Jeff returned to his native land of Chicago, he was infused with a new purpose— to bring masks off of the stage and onto the streets. In 2000, he created the Smile Factory Project with one principle in mind: “You are a smile factory. When you wear a smile, you get smiles back.” Jeff would simply walk around public places, wearing a partial face mask that coated his lower face in a wide grin. While Jeff began the endeavor as a vehicle for his own amusement, he soon discovered that it created surprisingly powerful effects on people he encountered. Many folks would smile at him or laugh out loud. “German tourists always found me and followed me around,” says Jeff. These happiness happenings did more than brighten a few people's day— they saved a few lives. Jeff received several notes from individuals claiming that their encounter with his mask had actually prevented them from attempting suicide.

When Jeff sent a smile mask to Patch Adams, the legendary doctor invited him to the Gesundheit Institute. Their relationship evolved and Jeff accompanied Patch's clown troop on their annual trip to Russia. “We went to orphanages and old actors’ homes and I thought we would just be giving and giving, but I was receiving the joy.”

Since that adventure, Jeff has traveled to areas as far away as Macedonia to share his gift of mask making with the world. He realized that his masks could be used to help build bridges with people and communicate messages of peace and empowerment. “It's really an 'off the wall' concept: Art that becomes part of people's lives and even becomes a catalyst for transformation.”

Jeff now uses his creations to make political statements around Chicago. “Giant George”, a towering parade style puppet in the president’s likeness, has graced several major protests, including the Air and Water Show. Jeff, who considers the event militaristic, brought Giant George with the words “Let Freedom Rain” painted its front. Not surprisingly, many at the event disagreed with Jeff's beliefs— but the puppet ensured that his message was at least understood.

Jeff believes that puppets and masks can be a highly effective form of protest. Puppets are often the only things at a protest that can be clearly seen from a distance, and convey a message to far-away onlookers. According to him, when standing in a crowd with his puppet, “It is like having a whole other being dangling off of your arm”.

At the Inside Out Arts Studio, you can purchase and admire Jeff's creations, including Mardi Gras and animal masks. Jeff and visiting artists can also teach you how to make a mask that can express your hidden personality or your public politics. Jeff hopes that the Chicago culture will continue to embrace mask making as an exciting and fun form of communication. “Chicagoans work hard, and they should play hard, too,” he adds.

Visit Inside Out Arts at 2005 W. Montrose or www.insideoutarts.us, or call 773/697-5012 for class schedules.