Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks
February 14 – May 17, 2026
Explore the rich festival culture of Mexico through four dozen historic and contemporary masks from the collection of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks reveals the individual artists and dancers behind the masks and invites visitors to witness danzas as expressions of contemporary living culture.
Temporary Closure
The Paine will be closed for cleaning and maintenance January 6–February 12, 2026. The Paine will reopen to Members on February 13 for Member Preview Day, and to the general public on February 14 for a new art exhibition, Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks.
Daily Admission
February 14–March 4, 2026
Admission includes viewing the mansion, gardens, and “Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks” exhibition
Tuesday–Sunday
11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Reservations recommended
$12 Adults
$7 Youth
Free for Paine Members
Free for children ages 4 and under
Rooms of Blooms
Floral Show
Admission includes viewing the floral show and “Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks” exhibition
Thursday, March 5 | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Friday–Sunday, Mar 6–8 | 9:00 AM–8:00 PM
Thursday, March 12 | 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Friday–Sunday, March 13–15 | 9:00 AM–8:00 PM
Reservations required. Reservations available January 20.
Before 4:00 PM:
$33 Adult
$21 Youth (ages 5-17)
4:00 PM and after:
$22 Adult
$14 Youth (ages 5-17)
Free for children ages 4 and under
Free for Paine Members
Community First Credit Union members receive 2-for-1 admission
Tea Time
Take your tea with treats amidst the floral display in the conservatory
Morning Tea
Saturday–Sunday, March 7–8 & 14–15 | 9:30–11:30 AM
Afternoon Tea
Thursday, March 5 | 1:00–4:30 PM
Friday–Sunday, March 6–8 | 11:30 AM–4:30 PM
Thursday–Sunday, March 12–15 | 11:30 AM–4:30 PM
Sip & Savor
Enjoy a choice of wine with savory bites amidst the floral display in the conservatory
Friday–Sun, March 6–8 | 5:00–7:30 PM
Thursday–Sunday, March 12–15 | 5:00–7:30 PM
About the Exhibition
Dancing with Life invites visitors to explore the rich festival culture of Mexico through historic and contemporary masks drawn from the collection of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, Washington. Centered on the Michoacán region of Mexico, the exhibition brings together 50 hand-carved and vividly painted masks alongside five complete sets of danza regalia adorned with beadwork, ribbons, and other lavish embellishments.
Across Mexico, mask making is a vibrant and playful art form deeply rooted in community celebrations of religious holidays. Worn by dancers in lively performances known as danzas, these masks portray devils and holy men, animals and mythical creatures, celebrities and politicians, and recognizable figures from everyday life. Danzas are performed to tell both old and new stories, and the dancers wear masks made by artists to share and give life to these stories.
From fearsome, elaborately painted diablos to the gentle faces of kindly elders, the masks celebrate the artistry and creativity of the mask makers and their communities, which are enlivened by the sights and sounds of danzas and fiestas. With humor, whimsy, and subversion, mask makers respond to the social, spiritual, and political circumstances of everyday life through this engaging art form. Symbols and scripts drawn from religious narratives, folklore, politics, and popular culture intertwine to explore, dramatize, and express ideas in both humorous and meaningful ways.
The exhibition is enriched by contextual videos featuring mask makers and dancers, as well as bilingual interpretive text in Spanish and English.
Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks is the featured exhibition for Rooms of Blooms
Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks is a highlight of Rooms of Blooms during the first two weekends of March! Talented floral designers from all over the region will present a showcase of fantastic floral arrangements inspired by the artistry of the masks and regalia throughout the main gallery.
Reservations are required to attend, and available now.
Lead Sponsor
Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks was curated by Dr. Pavel Shlossberg and organized by Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Spokane, WA. Its tour is organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.
Become a Member Now!
Paine Members enjoy free admission to Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks and get to preview the exhibition before the general public. Join as a Paine Member to enjoy these perks immediately, plus receive free admission to Rooms of Blooms, additional benefits for Nutcracker in the Castle during the holiday season, discounts on Gift Shop purchases, and many more perks that last an entire year!