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In this Jan. 21, 2013 photo, Carnival masks hang on the wall at the Condal factory in Sao Goncalo, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Condal is Brazil's oldest and most productive mask factory that is run by Olga Valles, a family business started in 1958. As such, she's responsible for keeping a finger on the nation's sense of whimsy and translating the year's most popular characters, be they real or imaginary, admirable, silly or scary, into masks that will adorn revelers during Carnival, Brazil's annual five-day extravaganza, that begins Friday. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![brazil_mask__7_]()
In this Jan. 21, 2013 photo, Carnival masks in the likeness of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Joaquim Barbosa air drys on an assembly line at the Condal factory in Sao Goncalo, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Condal is Brazil's oldest and most productive mask factory that is run by Olga Valles, a family business started in 1958. Barbosa, born into poverty, became the first black judge in the nation's top court when he took office in 2003. Barbosa went on to make a name for himself when he presided over a wide-ranging political corruption trial involving a cash-for-votes scheme. Now, average Brazilians are honoring him during Carnival by buying his mask in droves, said Valles. Brazil's annual five-day extravaganza begins Friday. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![brazil_mask__1_]()
In this Jan. 21, 2013 photo, an employee, back right, paints a turtle shell costumes near carnival masks in the likeness of Brazil's striker Neymar and Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Joaquim Barbosa, left, at the Condal factory in Sao Goncalo, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Condal is Brazil's oldest and most productive mask factory that is run by Olga Valles, a family business started in 1958. Carnival's license to be whoever you want to be for a day is at the core of Valles' business, with the season's sales representing 70 percent of her income. Brazil's annual five-day extravaganza begins Friday. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![brazil_mask__3_]()
In this Jan. 21, 2013 photo, Carnival masks in the likeness of Brazil's striker Neymar are prepared on an assembly line at the Condal factory in Sao Goncalo, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Condal is Brazil's oldest and most productive mask factory that is run by Olga Valles, a family business started in 1958. Carnival's license to be whoever you want to be for a day is at the core of Valles' business, with the season's sales representing 70 percent of her income. Brazil's annual five-day extravaganza begins Friday. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![brazil_mask__5_]()
A man who says he is depicting President Barack Obama poses for a photo holding a banner that reads in Portuguese; "This man is me," at the Simpatia e Quase Amor or "Kindness is almost love," block party, a pre-Carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)![brazil_mask__6_]()
Eduardo Rasberge, 48, known as Suitcase Woman wears a decorative suitcase on his head while posing for a photo during the Banda de Ipanema block parade, a pre-Carnival event, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. Rasberge said inspired by singer Carmen Miranda, the Suitcase Woman has been a Carnival regular for the past 30 years. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)![brazil_mask]()
In this Jan. 21, 2013 photo, a Carnival mask in the likeness of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Joaquim Barbosa is displayed on a mannequin at the Condal factory in Sao Goncalo, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Condal is Brazil's oldest and most productive mask factory that is run by Olga Valles, a family business started in 1958. Barbosa, born into poverty, became the first black judge in the nation's top court when he took office in 2003. Barbosa went on to make a name for himself when he presided over a wide-ranging political corruption trial involving a cash-for-votes scheme. Now, average Brazilians are honoring him during Carnival by buying his mask in droves, said Valles. Brazil's annual five-day extravaganza begins Friday. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![brazil_mask__2_]()
In this Jan. 21, 2013 photo, Carnival masks in the likeness of Brazil's striker Neymar dry after spray painted, on an assembly line at the Condal factory in Sao Goncalo, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Condal is Brazil's oldest and most productive mask factory that is run by Olga Valles, a family business started in 1958. Carnival's license to be whoever you want to be for a day is at the core of Valles' business, with the season's sales representing 70 percent of her income. Brazil's annual five-day extravaganza begins Friday. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)A Factory of Masks, and Dreams, for Rio's Carnival
Olga Valles, who runs Brazil's oldest and most productive mask factory, is responsible for keeping a finger on the nation's sense of whimsy. Here is a look at her latest batch.
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- A Factory of Masks, and Dreams, for Rio's Carnival
