Montclair Magazine Back To School 2016 | Page 51

DELIGHTFULLY DARK IMAGES Kass’ many visits to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico’s oldest colonial town and a popular artists’ community, are represented throughout her home, starting with the wide, inviting entryway. The orange gourde piece on the side table is a souvenir gift from a friend who accompanied her on a trip there, and is highly detailed and hand-made. The photo above the mantel is of a calavera, a skull made of sugar that is associated with the Mexican Day of the Dead. “The veil between life and death in Mexico feels transparent,” says Kass. “It’s not depressing.” The lights on the mantel and in the fireplace are from Kass’ hometown of Rochester, New York. ➤