Return to flip book view

Tri Duong is an artist, photographer and all-around adventure enthusiast. Originally from Vietnam, Duong moved to the United States on Christmas Eve in 2007. Then, he became interestedin photography after meeting a photojournalist that same night.

The AdventureBehind the MaskAs Duong started thinking about his mask,he knew he needed supplies. First, heneeded china, so he decided to go to localthrift stores in Fort Collins. Among them wasFunktional, a for-profit store where theemployee, Kelsey, was more than happy tohelp, because Duong had little idea of whathe was looking for.“I never have a set plan for anything like this,”he said. “It’s always spontaneous.”After thrifting, Duong went to Hobby Lobbyto get glue, china cutters, and other supplies.There, he met Luna, who has worked atHobby Lobby for nine years and said she canalways recognize mask artists.“You’re very invested in this mask,” she saidas she led him to find a china cutter. “So I’mgoing to show you the best stuff.”

Gloves OnThriftingLooking for GlueDuong looks for china plates in the Funktional Thrift store inFort Collins, CO (Nov. 5, 2022) (Right).Needing help to find the best glue for the mask, Duong speaksto Hobby Lobby employee Luna in Fort Collins, Colorado (Nov.5, 2022) (Bottom).With help from Luna, Duong looks for a pair of gloves to usewhile cutting china. (Nov. 5, 2022) (Left).

Pieces Behind the MaskFor one eye, Duong used a vintage cameralens he thrifted at a local Goodwill. Thelens represents his passion forphotography, and how he sees the worldthrough his camera. He also said that hefeels like his camera is a mask that he isoften behind as an observer. The other eyeis made of 5 small mirrors (not pictured),which allows the viewer to see their owneye. Duong said this connects to the lensbecause one uses their eyes to seethrough the camera. Duong thrifted the china pieces, which form the bottom and left side of the mask, fromthrift stores in Fort Collins. The china represents the people that he comes across in hislife. The china pieces are very different, like people, but each person he meets leaves apiece of themselves with him, and they come together to shape him into the personbehind the mask. Lens and MirrorsSeashellsDuong used seashells from Surfside, Texasto form the top of the mask. Duong saidthat during Fall 2021, when his familymoved to Houston, he ended up movingback and forth between Texas andColorado quite a bit. While in Texas,Duong said the beaches were an escapefor him, much like the mountains ofColorado.China

The ProcessBehind the MaskAccording to Duong, the mask is inspiredby the Egyptian Horned Owl. He chose tocreate an owl because of an Egyptianmyth about how the owls “wander in thenight” looking for dead spirits. Hence, thename of the mask “Wanderer of theNight.” Duong enjoys roaming duringnighttime because he likes to see andphotograph that side of people and theenvironment.

Patience is KeyRaising the mask on a box, Duongfocuses on covering the edges ofhis mask with seashells inLoveland, CO. Duong held piecesonto the mask for minutes at atime to allow the glue tocompletely dry (Dec. 2, 2022).Cutting ChinaUsing supplies he bought at HobbyLobby, Duong cuts a china plate hethrifted into smaller pieces for themask in his room in Loveland,Colorado. Duong described puttingthe china on the mask as puttingpuzzle pieces together (Nov. 5,2022).That's A Lot of Glue!Duong glues shells and china intoplace on the mask in Loveland, CO.Duong went through several tubesof glue while making the mask(Dec. 2, 2022.).

The PhotographerBehind the MaskIn addition to being a mask artist, Duongis the Photo Editor at The Collegian forRocky Mountain Student MediaCorporation. Working for the Collegian consumes ahuge part of Duong’s life, and his jobconsists of taking photos, editing photos,giving assignments to photographersand teaching newcomers. Duong saidthe people he has met through theCollegian and the journalism departmenthave made an enormous positive impacton his life, and they’re a big reason whyhe returned to Fort Collins after being inTexas with his family during Fall 2021.

Training PhotographersDuong teaches new photographer River Kinnaird how toupload and import photos into Adobe Lightroom Classic inthe Rocky Mountain Student Media newsroom at ColoradoState University in Fort Collins, CO. Duong’s duties as Co-Photo Director of the Collegian also include teaching newphotographers the post-production process. (Nov. 1, 2022)Staying on TrackLooking at his laptop, Duongchecks a spreadsheet to ensurehe is editing photos on schedule,and photographers are gettingtheir photos in on time in theRocky Mountain Student Medianewsroom at Colorado StateUniversity in Fort Collins, CO(Nov. 1, 2022.).Gather 'Round Looking at his laptop, Duong checks a spreadsheet to ensure he is editing photos on schedule, and photographers are getting their photos in on time in the Rocky Mountain Student Media newsroom at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO (Nov. 1, 2022).

Beyond the MaskView Tri's Portfolio: Contact Tri: https://triduong.work/ duon3790@gmail.com

Samantha Nordstromis a multimedia journalist based in FortCollins, CO. She is passionate aboutstorytelling, photography, writing andcapturing beautiful moments in life.Contact:Email: samanthanordstrom1@gmail.comInstagram: _visualsbysamPortfolio and Blog:www.samanthanordstrom.com