Ripe Frenzy

As my final produced show for Boston University, I had the privilege to design for the National New Play Network's 2016 Smith Prize for Political Theatre, Ripe Frenzy by Jennifer Barclay.   This production is a part of the rolling world premiere in collaboration with The New Rep Theatre and Boston Center for American Performance.

 In the wake of school shootings that have taken place in the last few years, Zoe, the historian of Tavistown takes us through the events leading up to the tragedy that occurred at Tavistown High. The story explores the issues and questions pertaining to gun violence in schools and the community that has to deal with its effects.

Photo by Kalman Zabarsky

Designing costumes for a contemporary show is different from designing historical shows mainly in that most of the pieces are shopped in stores.  Not a lot of pieces are built if any at all.   The plus side is that clothes for a contemporary show definitely exist and can be acquired. The down side is that sometimes there are too many options and not the perfect one.  Because the audience and design team is living in the same time period as the play, we all have an idea of what contemporary clothing should look like and what it conveys about each character. While this perception is true for historical period shows, it is much more subtle and real in contemporary shows.  It's up to the costume designer to have a sense of this and balance out what is believable to what looks good on stage.  While shopping as a job may sound easy in theory, the costume designer is not shopping purely for personal aesthetics.  They have to find items that would be realistically worn by these characters and contribute to the overall stage picture. 

When conceptualizing contemporary shows as with any other show, character delineation is the most important.  Instead of sketching costume renderings, collages of ideas are usually fine unless there is a specific piece that will be built.  Shopping requires an idea of what the characters may wear plus a sense of how they will all look together, as an individual ensemble and as ensembles in the stage picture.  Fittings are very important in this process to see how these clothes fit the actors.  Sometimes the perfect piece of clothing found in stores won't work for the body type, skin color etc of the actor and sometimes a "maybe" piece magically brings the entire character and stage picture together.

Photo by Kalman Zabarsky

I was very fortunate that the design team for this was so open and collaborative from the get go.  Communicating about set design, lights, and color palette helps us all work to complement one another's design on stage to create a cohesive overall vision.  Depending on these elements, costumes can fade or get lost in the design or stand out and bring an extra visual element to characterization in addition to the work of the actors.

Photo by Kalman Zabarsky

While the issue of gun violence may be too close for comfort at this time, the discussion and dialogue should be open and encouraged.  I urge anyone who can see this play to please do so if only to begin this conversation that will hopefully develop into action.

Photo by Kalman Zabarsky

Ripe Frenzy runs at the Studio One Theatre in Boston University College of Fine Arts (855 Commonwealth Avenue  Boston, MA 02215) from February 26-March 11.

Halloween Part 2! Disguising Disguises

Right before I left Disguise, I had the chance to begin designs on some awesome costumes before  handing them off to the rest of the amazing design team when I said goodbye.  Here are more styles I developed. These were so much fun to work on and I LOVED seeing these around this past Halloween and I'm looking forward to glimpsing these in the future!

The Legend of Zelda (initial design, materials, prototyping)

LEGO Ninjago! (Concept line, pitch, development, materials, prototyping)

I can't wait to see what other costumes they'll develop!

Halloween is Coming!! Disguise Yourself!!

For the past few years, I worked on and off closing out the production season for Disguise Costumes. In the Spring of last year, I returned and eventually became a junior designer for the company.

Working here has taught me so many valuable skill sets and work ethics. Despite it being a Halloween specific company, we work all year round to develop these costumes which is then produced in China and shipped to all the retailers.  In addition, because development takes so long due to changes in design for cost licensed approvovals throughout the various stages of development (concept, prototype, pre-production, final sample), we work one entire year ahead of schedule.  Therefore, all the new styles that are out for this year's Halloween were developed and realized last year at corporate headquarters.  The constant and year-round fast pace of manufacturing development has definitely helped me understand and respect the amount of work it takes to create products that are sold everywhere.  Communication with all aspects of creative development from all departments, factories, and licensors are crucial to creating great product.

Personally, I love working on all different categories of design.  It's always so exciting learning what major creative studios are producing and interpreting these shows, movies, games etc. into wearable costumes for children and adults.  It also gives me another excuse to watch cartoons and shows and buy toys for reference (as if I needed any). Because we are in direct contact with licensors, the passion is definitely there. 

Lastly glitter. Working in Halloween, you will get glitter on all parts of your body and clothing. You will be halfway through your coffee and see glitter specs in your cup and not care anymore. You will find glitter in your shoes over a year after you stop working there. I've learned to embrace it.  It's like I got attacked by unicorns and fairies.

That being said, many people have asked me which costumes I worked on and seeing as it is roughly a month before the big day (Halloween), I've listed my accomplishments below. All the ones I worked on are under "New for 2015!" They're retailed at many of the major stores (Target, Wal-Mart, Costco, Spirit, Amazon, and so many more)and online so I hope you enjoy them! I LOVE watching kids toddle around in these all happy and poofy muscled.

Full responsibility as a designer.

Emoticons, my first line!

One of my favorite lines

Prestige and Adult Muscle

Soft costumes and accessories

He-Man hates me. But there's love there. I think...

 Generic Toddlers

Hello Kitty for Chasing Fireflies

I helped in the design processes of the following.

Mario Riding Yoshi inflatable is kind of my favorite

Keep an eye out in all the Halloween sections and stores!
I also worked on a few more styles for 2016 so stay tuned next year! 

Happy Halloween!
Xoxo,

On Set Plastic Wrap Dress for Exhibit Ambush

Back in May, the Exhibit Ambush team got together at Padre Janitorial Supply's spacious warehouse for a huge editorial photoshoot.  Prior to the shoot, I had decided to take half a step back from my role as one of their main avant garde designers to focus on developing my skills and strengthening my career path.  Despite this, I still very much wanted to actively participate in supporting Ambush and all that it offers for artists.  Whenever I was able, I would volunteer my time and help the team as best I can.

Going into the photoshoot, I was set on general grunt work related to full day editorial shoots including gathering supplies, setting up props and staging, cleaning, organizing, etc.  The night before, we received news that we may be one look short and a back up would be ideal.   Since I had nothing new to show, I offered to work on something on the spot and see if we can get a good shot out of it.  Needless to say, many people were uneasy.  I was...a little nervous, but mostly excited.  On set improv fashion was something I had been wanting to do for years.  There's a certain thrill about the challenge of only using what you can find on set and creating something functional in a small amount of time.  It really tests your creativity and resourcefulness as an artist and pushes the boundaries of your aesthetics.  I therefore packed my portable dressform and fashion designer's photoshoot bag complete with double stick tape, safety pins, etc. and threw in some staples, tape, rope, more safety pins, etc. for some fun improv fashion.

BTS Photos by awesome artist Haze One

After the initial set up and team huddle, I set to work on this back-up look.  The warehouse had a pile of discarded cardboard boxes and plastic wrap that was perfect for what I planned. Setting up shop out of the way of the general traffic of photoshoot work, I began familiarizing myself with the plastic and thinking up different methods I can manipulate the material to my advantage in between helping with the other looks.

As it turned out, we did not need the extra back-up editorial look, but photographer Danny Suhendar insisted we shoot it anyway. Model Katya Beatty was amazing as I fit the plastic to her body and stapled and tied and wrapped her in. Go team!



Please check out the other shots in this series in Studio Airr's blog post HERE!

Creative Team:
     Photographer: Danny Suhendar

     Model: Katya Beatty

     Make Up Artist: Sylvie MUA

     Jewelry designer: Nea Eshe (Tanya Jenkins)
     Styling/direction: Antoinette Ransom
     Set designers/assistance: Zynada Aurelio, Marilyn Bui, Miko Pangusan, Gilberto Guzmán,  
                 Angelica Terre, Kailey Withers, Jorge Chavez
     Designer: Annalynn Luu

The Project Lennon

Over the summer, I was a part of a group of incredibly talented artists who took part in what we hope and plan to be the first of many murals promoting togetherness and peace around the San Diego community of North Park.  Led by sculptor and artist Sam Ballard, The Project Lennon is an art movement that strives to promote peace.  The starting plan is to paint various Beatles inspired murals across the community led by local artists, youth, and volunteers.

I was fortunate enough to have been a part of the very first leg of this project. We all volunteered our time and helped trace, cut, prep, and paint the first installation.

Hopefully, if time permits, I will be able to help with future projects.

The Project Lennon is also involved in many other events promoting art to the youth aside from these North Park murals.  Recently, Sam Ballard and Robert Rotzler staged a flash mob in San Diego's Horton Plaza Mall.

The entire project and what The Project Lennon stands for is a huge and worthwhile undertaking and is certainly taking off in so many ways.  My very best to Sam and may this project soar.

Communicate. Collaborate. Create.

The Witch Queen: Sets

Back in the spring I had the chance to help out with an amazing shoot planned by an amazing team.  Call it a preview of what we have planned later this year with the majority of the members. I love how these turned out and I am very proud of everyone involved.  It's amazing what creative collaborations, both big and small, can produce.

Outtake, one of my favorite shots

The results are now published in the October 2014 Issue of Dark Beauty Magazine. The full photoset starts on page 256.

The only BTS I managed to take.

Communicate. Collaborate. Create.

Hot Mikado

In the last couple of months, I've been working with SDSCPA as Costume Designer for their musical comedy Hot Mikado directed by Jessica Bird. The musical opened on February 21 and will run until March 08. I couldn't be more happy for the cast and crew that was a part of the team.

We've modernized the musical and combined various Japanese, 40's, and contemporary hipster trends to the costumes. The result is pretty great.  If any of you have time and are in the area, please go check it out!  I love it so much I'm hoping to go see it more than once!

Purchase tickets here or at the front box office during show dates.

xoxo,

Photoshoot with Lisa Kimberly

One week prior to Exhibit Ambush, I had the chance to work with some immensely creative and talented individuals on a photoshoot with my garments.  While the general  mood and overall idea of the shoot was discussed, the details were left open to collective interpretation.  This allowed for an open collaboration of ideas and experimentation which I have always found to yield some of the best images.

Photo by Lisa Kimberly

Our creative team consisted of the following:

     Photographers Lisa Kimberly & Kristina Yamamoto

     Model: Mio Yokoyama

     Make Up Artist: Danielle Henry

     Hair Stylist: Badri Kermani

     Sculptor and artist: Zynada Aurelio

     Jewelry designer: Sweet1985

     Designers: Jaqueline Banting & Annalynn Luu

Photos by Lisa Kimberly

What initially began as one shoot became two separate photoshoots with largely different looks and moods.  Such is the talent of the team.

This was one of those photoshoots where everything just went right.  The entire team worked well together, there was respect, love, and an overall sense of collaboration.

Full set of photographs can be found on my website HERE.

Here’s to hoping we can all work together again!