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Mas maker Michael Alexis (Chickee), hard at work putting finishing touches to a costume. Photos: Charles Kong Soo. If you were a Carnival baby who grew up playing Kiddies Carnival, then its almost natural you made the seamless transition to “big people mas.” Wayne Berkeley, Glen Carvalho, Stephen Lee Heung, Lil and Edmond Hart, Raoul Garib, Geraldo Vieira Snr, Max Awon, Peter Minshall, Brian Mc Farlane, all famous mas makers of renown. Their names roll off the tip of your tongue with consummate ease. Most likely you’ve played mas in those Carnival icons’ costumes and mas bands, but have you heard of Michael Alexis (Chickee)? Chances are you probably played mas in one of his creations and you probably didn’t know it.

Alexis’, 54, dedication to his craft is reflected in the painstaking attention to detail of his costumes. His professional mas making career spans 20 years in the business. Chickee honed his mas making skills under the tutelage and expert guidance of mas legend, Wayne Berkeley. It’s no easy task making even one section of a Carnival band. For Carnival 2011, Alexis is working on five different multiple Carnival projects simultaneously.  When it comes down to crunch time, Alexis can be seen working under the work tent set up in his yard in Mt Lambert late into the night.