#mascamp

[stickshoponwheels]

About Mas

Provocation

Mas as a process or mechanism — something we have been, and continuously practising and experimenting with, in our own Caribbean ecosystem for centuries — is a metaphorical space to innovate joy. 

The term is short for masquerade; but close etymologically to mass, which can imply a religious tradition, but also a gathering (a festival or feast) of differences. Scientifically, it relates to matter or an intrinsic property of a body (ex. kilogram, inertia, gravity). In biological terms, we can refer to mass as an accumulation of cells. Or geographically, to land mass. Más, in Spanish, directly translates to “more”... These varied meanings, particularly in the Caribbean, imply an ongoing and emergent relationship to “many”.  

“We are not islands, but a mountain range that connects rhythm, soul, body, folded diaspora, atmosphere, expression … not singular nor contained. Like the Caribbean, our existence is a series of interconnected events, evidenced through soil, seeds, precious metals, scattered stones across the ocean floor, stolen artifacts, displaced lands, exiled people, and unexplored imaginaries. It is in reclaiming these obscured histories that we continue to experience, cultivate, learn, produce, nurture, and grow into being.” (Architect Magazine, 2023)

Mas in the masquerade sense, is a mirror of Caribbean society. A reflection of — culture, history, community, arts, environment, politics, identity, current affairs, and economies. There is reverence given to the masman or mas-maker, one who practises the Carnival art-form. Mas is synonymous with making, but also playing. It’s alive in phrases like “make mas” and “play mas”, or compliments like “Dat [that] is mas!” or “Mama, dis [this] is mas.” Simple expressions that activate the Caribbean imaginary — in individuals, families, neighbourhoods, communities, cities, and ecosystems. Mas connects people with places, and gives agency.

The MasCamp website/app is a proposed digital infrastructure or platform for future mas-makers to activate their communities, and enable/support innovative ecosystems and making cultures in the Caribbean.The platform advocates for the use of Carnival, more popularly known as mas, as the building blocks for designing a digital playground in the Caribbean. It biases the mas-makers in the process, for the value and qualities as builders, and the ethics that they bring to the table — generosity, self-determination, playfulness, relationships, and collaboration. Mas offers a story from which to ask why. 

If the Caribbean is defined by the sea it is named, then its mas and/or mass have barely scratched the surface — meaning our understanding of the region. The 21st century yields powerful technologies that enable new discoveries and cooperation — AI, blockchain, decentralised manufacturing, tiktok, and open source. How do we think about and apply these technologies in the context of the Caribbean? Are they useful?

“The real problem of humanity is the following: We have Palaeolithic emotions, medieval institutions and god-like technology . . . ” —Edward O. Wilson

Digital tools like MasCamp aim to empower mas-makers and communities around the Caribbean to build, collaborate, and network on many small projects — becoming of this region — and in the spirit of mas. Be it Caribbean innovations (ex. go-karts and stilts), street vendor mapping (ex. sno-cone, coconuts, or doubles), crowdfunding, small island surveys, or climate datasets. Our ability to respond en massedigitally — corresponds to how well we make/play mas at home; with each other; and as Caribbean citizens with ideas and tools. 

Mas as a “space to innovate joy” is the ethos of MasCamp. It leaves the door open to see who walks in and what can be made together. 

[marklyndersay]

Peter Minshall among wireframe horse’s heads at the Callalloo company mas camp in Cocorite in 1995. Donkey Derby was the band that Minshall salvaged from the much more expansive designs and construction work he’d embarked on for a design collaboration with the Spanish designer Miralda called The Honeymoon. With the collapse of that project and the pervasive presence of Whoa Donkey! a surprise Carnival hit by the United Sisters, who counted among their number Singing Sandra and Tigress, Minshall went with the flow and created his own sardonic look at T&T society, building a massive papier Machel Trojan Donkey to form the centrepiece of his Savannah presentation. But that was weeks away and I needed an early photo of the masman for the Carnival Souvenir I was working on for the Trinidad Express. I showed up by arrangement one evening, scouted a spot among a collection of wire-frame donkey heads in varying stages of completion and lit the designer so that the background, a messy collection of debris and rehearsing dancers dropped off to black.  He looked up quizzically and I said three words to him, “Alas, poor Yorick.” He got it immediately. Day Three of Trinidad Carnival - An Instagram Exhibition, 10 days of posts that take note of notable people and events from my archive of Carnival coverage. #archive #lyndersaydigital #masman #archivecarnival #trinidad #portrait #design #carnival #trinidadandtobago #filmphotography #peterminshall #callalloocompany #bandleader #donkeyderby #hamlet #cocorite #mascamp #trinidadcarnival #thelyndersayarchive (at Cocorite, Saint George, Trinidad And Tobago) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuV7Gingv2s/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=u5dw86chesgy

[lakoki]

Many views and humans 🛸 . . . . . . . . 📸 @vasquezlaroche . . . #belmontislove #caraqueñaperdida #drone #mascamp #mokojumbies #costumes #birdview #trinidadandtobago #favoritehumans #artspaces #aliceyard #tryingahthing (at Granderson Lab, Belmont) https://www.instagram.com/p/CasEAE5uDru/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thefabraja]

A faint blush below the horizon, as the first kiss from the Sun wakes the Earth from its slumber. #MeetaAhluwalia #prettymorning #picofyesterday #pasttravel #tbthursday #belmont #trinidad #mascamp #crapphone #idophotographyforme #love #morninglight #light #loveandlight #likeforlikes #love #mascamp #mascamps #trinidadandtobago #picoftheday #tellmama (at Belmont, Saint George, Trinidad And Tobago) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_CvgZpJH9B/?igshid=1tkxngumhouel

[kingschascha-blog]

20 years since I have seen my Uncle Albert! Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 Carnival started in this yard for me! The memories of all the cut ass my mudda shell out because ah sneak outside in the Mas Camp and making my own costume out of materials for other people costume! Then to see him in a wheelchair with no legs due to diabetes!!! Ugh... love you uncle A..... . . . . #kingschascha #thablackpanther #rootsrockreggae #family #theenglishbeat #thebeat #kingschaschaandfriends #allhailtheking🤴🏾 #live #love #smile #dance #mascamp #trinidad (at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpXrKqWFqmJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=uinme6l9zzzg

[isokeurbi]

It was an absolute bliss old friends with our other halves chipping to bacchanal #couples #friends #bacchanal #tb #mascamp #carnival #jamaica #wefete #funtimes #wehadablast #brenisAGoodOne #noSocialMedia #mybetterhalf #hisbesthalf #bremila #togetherforever❤️ (at Out and About)

[marklyndersay]

Callalloo Company Headquarters, Chaguaramas, July 15, 2021 A sewing machine sits unused gathering dust and rust at the Carnival company's construction headquarters in Chaguaramas. #carenage #lyndersaydigital  #trinidad #westindies #carnival #mas #portofspain #trinidadandtobago #smartphonephotography #s20 #samsungcrbn #photography #queensparksavannah #creation #engineroom #mascamp #callalloo #callalloocompany #sewingmachine #thread (at Chaguaramas, Saint George, Trinidad And Tobago) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWhUY5vrXwR/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakoki]

The making of June . . . . . . . . . . . Pizza to clear the thoughts #caraqueñaperdida #minibandoftheyear #mokosomokow #walkingaround #caribbean #trinidad #carnival2k20 #trinidadcarnival #moko #grandersonlab #glab #designprocess #carnival2020 #instagood #stilts #atelier #mascamp #photooftheday #picoftheday #costumes #olemas #zancos #mokojumbie #carnival #mas #traditionalmas #culture #carnaval @mokosomokow 📸 @notsirk https://www.instagram.com/p/B9UfPttpoKf/?igshid=j277uqtujjob

[fatsmoney]

Is this man a cunt or nah ?????? 😝😚😒😚😒😘😒😘😞😘😘😞 . . . #prank #jokes #comedy #skit #funny #niggasbelike #omg #jetski #jamaica #soca #tnt #trinidad #slowmotion #rp #bitchesbelike #funnyfail #bts #btsedit #fail #viral #waterride #worldstar #machelmontano #bunji #fullextreme #trini #panorama #steelpan #mas #mascamp

[itsdjsupreme]

I'm on of the #djs on the road for @fusion_mas #miamicarnival #mascamp is open dm us for location #brooklyn

[myhungryworld2]

🇬🇧 Repost via @thebrandlion - ♥️ w/ @repostwhiz app: @Novamasintl has invaded the office! Carnival has officially started! Bermuda Heroes weekend. Look out for our chief lioness this Monday 🦁 @immolatista 👏🏾#ShoutOut to my #Besties in #Bermuda 👍🏾 #MyHungryWorld #SkinnyGirlsLuvFood2 #socialmediamarketing #island #bermudaheroesweekend2017 #mascamp #passport #breakfasttime #DestinationWedding (at Hamilton, Bermuda)

[cortezvernon]

A MUST WATCH!!!! Check @revelunit page for link to full video. #Batabano2017 #cayman #caymanislands #RevelUnit #teamvernon #coverage #exotic #island #paradise @carnivalbelle @carnivalcraze @carnivallife @carnivalchung @carnivalslayers #island #vibes #mascamp #batabano (at Grand Cayman)

[islandtoislandbrewery-blog]

Yuh Crazy! Our flagship West Indian IPA #glutenfree #fruitbeer ____ West Indians love everything sweet, sweet honey, sweet fruit picked off a tree like sweet julie mango, sweet water coconut, sweet women, sweet fruit cake, sweet roti, sweet sorrel and sweet shandy. Our flagship classic recipe reprsents our namesake Island to Island by fusing the best of two islands Trinidad and Tobago & New York City. Islands that both represent the diversity of the world through imports, migrants, and fusions of all kinds. With ingredients that grow from Argentina to Toronto, Mexico to Barbados this beer is also All American! ____ And now as the world begins it’s 2018 celebration of American Caribbean culture, music, food, drink, dance and artistry, starting with Trinidad Carnival, we present to you the one and only "Yuh Crazy" West Indian IPA ____ We Love Trinidad Jouvert and what better to have in yuh hand while wo'king up yuh waist than our "West Indian IPA" There are: West coast IPAs New England IPAs British / Engilsh IPAs American IPAs Black IPAs Double Dry Hoped IPAs etc. etc. But have you experienced a West Indain IPA? ____ #nycbrewed #thinknydrinkny #brewerytours #hereinbrooklyn #nycgo #madeinnyc #itsatrinithing #brooklyn #bar #nycbrewers #carnival #carnivalseason #Trinidadcarnival #westindian #sorrel #hardcider #IPA #calypso #calypsohops #cannabis #Caribbean #NewYorkCity #socakingdom #soca #mascamp #weareallconnected #NYCBEERWEEK #nycfermfest2018

[marklyndersay]

Callalloo Company Headquarters, Chaguaramas, July 15, 2021 A wooden maquette, the design that underpins moulds created on a vaccuum forming press, in storage at the Carnival company's construction headquarters in Chaguaramas #carenage #lyndersaydigital  #trinidad #westindies #carnival #mas #portofspain #trinidadandtobago #smartphonephotography #photography #queensparksavannah #creation #engineroom #mascamp #callalloo #callalloocompany #vaccumform #moulding (at Chaguaramas, Saint George, Trinidad And Tobago) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWhUIlSLsGJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[itsdjsupreme]

We are on the road with @fusion_mas for #miamicarnival #mascamp is open dm us for location #brooklyn

[sanianitos]

“Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” - Mattie✨⚡️⚡️ This Saturday 27th March from 11am - 5pm, we will be at @carnivaltribe mascamp for their Creative Corner: Easter Essentials Pop-Up🥳 While there, we have the absolute delight of sharing our table with @ogbecreative ✨🌸🤍 We’ve collaborated with this brand before; coming together to provide cowrie element(al)s in our presentation of the Guardians of The White Cloth for carnival 2020⚡️🐚 Now we have the delight of collaborating again✨ We can’t wait to share with our offerings with you✨ #dreaming #building #birthing #sanianitos https://www.instagram.com/p/CM2PpSoFNCE/?igshid=1ogqszet5nz3g