Suson Launey; Jefferson Davis, Louisiana 
Submitted by: Kathy Tell 
Source: Louisiana Folklife Database maintained by the Louisiana Regional
Folklife Program, Region 2, at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. 
These biographies offer information to the general public. 
Submitted: July 2004
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************************************************Suson Launey
Needle Point Mardi Gras Mask Maker

Suson Launey's distinctive yarn masks have become a common 
sight in both the men's and women's Mardi Gras runs in Tee 
Mamou, located on Mamou Prairie near Iota, Louisiana. Iota 
is home of the most conservative Country Mardi Gras Run in 
all of Louisiana. Runners are required to attend meetings 
during the year, and outsiders are not allowed to run in 
the official Mardi Gras run on Fat Tuesday. Launey grew up 
with the rural Mardi Gras traditions of Iota. The participants 
of the run mask themselves and go from house to house in the 
rural countryside to beg for ingredients for the communal 
gumbo that is cooked, eaten, and celebrated at the dance on 
Mardi Gras night. The gumbo dinner and dance signal the 
beginning of forty days of Lent.


Part of the running of the Mardi Gras includes the wearing of 
screen masks which Suson found uncomfortable and left scratches. 
She decided to experiment with plastic to make a plastic screen 
for the base. She used needlepoint to make the design onto the 
plastic screen base. This type of mask was comfortable to wear 
and left no scratches at the end of the day.


Using designs and colors found on traditional screen masks, 
Launey's needlepoint masks became popular and in demand with other 
participants of the Tee Mamou Mardi Gras Run. Launey has fourteen 
years of experience making regular size masks as well as miniature 
masks used as jewelry pins. While visiting with Launey as she 
works on a mask, a mischievous smile sometimes appears as she 
pulls the needle through the small holes of the screen. Buyers 
purchasing one of Launey's creations, receive more than just a 
Mardi Gras Mask. They receive a part of her love of the craft 
and the Mardi Gras run itself. 


Suson Launey has made and exhibited her masks at the New Orleans 
Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Festival International, the 
Natchitoches/NSU Folk Festival, the Native Crafts Festival in 
Lafayette, and the official Louisiana Folklife Festival held the 
last three years in Monroe, Louisiana.