Darlings: What did this show represent for you?
This show was symbolic of all that I have been through with this collection, and the presentation conveyed all those feeling perfectly. The show was a story about the darkness that has engulfed my life over the past year, and the light that emerged as a result of that darkness.
When we returned from Iceland a dark cloud lingered over my heart and my art. For awhile I gave up on the idea of showing the collection at all; which in hindsight saddens me to reflect upon because it is a collection so near and dear to my heart. The concept of the collection is birds living at the bottom of the ocean, and it is very reflective of the natural environment I grew up in, which is the Pacific coast, near to the Oregon coastline. Many of the things I used in the collection where shells and birds parts found on the beach in Oregon, Northern California and Washington. To me this all symbolizes my family, my upbringing and the importance of my roots.
Photo by Jonathan Murphy
For me TWINS was symbolic of the light and dark I felt were battling inside of me, coming out of the Iceland debacle.
Narcissister’s gown was the “surprise” in the show, and it represents the bright brilliant light that surfaced after my having gone through so much pain and loss with everything that happened in Iceland. I guess you could say this was a showcase about grieving and the light that comes from the strength we obtain when we grieve. I am glad Oceania Etherea got to debut with the Narcissister gown. It brings balance.
Performance art is a way to emphasize the surreal. A girl on stilts is much taller then your average runway model, a trapeze is higher then a catwalk, and two heads play tricks on the mind, and make us second guess what does exist in reality verses what can exist in our dreams. I think it is entirely possible to create a world that is as big, or bigger, then what we dream. In my life this is what art truly is-making things happen and exist that everyone else thought impossible. My goal in life is to make this dream a beautiful reality.
I want to give a special thanks to all the models and performers involved in this show. Especially Ali Schmitz, who was on the stilts and trapeze in show. Ali represented an ocean wave in the showcasing, and she has been a brilliant wave of light in my art and life through the years, bringing with her bright beautiful color so much luminescent brilliance, reflective of sunlight being caught upon the surface of the sea.
Darlings: Who made all of the amazing coral headpieces?
Hair was keyed by Calli Carvajal, who I have worked with before and is amazingly talented and easy to work with. The beautiful coral headpieces were created by stylist Adam Maclay. The mud hair was done by Calli, Adam, Jeanise Aviles and Ariane Garcia. Calli, Adam and Ariane can be found working as stylists at Sense NY, and Jeanise can be found working as stylist at Cristiano Cora Studio. Both salons are located in Manhattan. All are amazingly creative, talented stylists and an absolute pleasure to work with.
Makeup was keyed by Lysette Drumgold. She created the beautiful look, and worked with an amazing team of makeup artists. Other makeup artists on the team were Mia Bauman, Tiffani Argentina, Ana Perdita, Erika Lee and Heatherlynn Serrano. They did such a beautiful job, and the concept of birds living at the bottom of the ocean was very apparent in their beautiful workmanship.
Also a special thanks to Kae Burke and House of Yes, for putting this fabulous and unconventional performance fashion show together.
Aerialists in Kae Tards, designed by Zev David Deans & Kae Burke
Check out this great recap of the evening here in images at Zimbio…some Darling video of the Alien Nation performance over at YouTube, and for a full list of all the designers head to the event page at House of Yes.
Last, but certainly not least, take a gander below at some of the beautiful crochet – metal – love, Sirius Lux, made by Siri Wilson of Treehouse Brooklyn. The Papusza models were adorned with these that night, and I maybe also bought one on the way to the show – thanks Siri!
Photo via Eugina Williams
