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labricoleuseThe Graduate Students Association of the Department of Dramatic Art hosted a showcase on Saturday, April 27th, featuring work from students in all three areas of focus--costume production, technical direction, and acting. I attended (albeit on a pile of pain meds due to my dental emergency) and took some photos of the displays. All costume pieces displayed are draped or drafted 100% by the artists (meaning, nothing from an extant/commercial pattern--we don't produce any costume or project from commercial patterns). All props items are 100% handmade via carpentry, carving, woodturning, welding, brazing, electrical wiring, etc.
Mainstage Work
These pieces were on display to reflect examples of the types of costumes our graduates produce for the PlayMakers mainstage. PlayMakers is an Equity house and member of the League of Regional Theatres. The productions are costumed by our on-site facility, in which our graduate students serve as drapers, first hands, management assistants, or crafts assistants (in tandem with the professional staff such as myself).
Also in this section, i have a couple images of their ballet projects. As part of their masters thesis, third-year graduates create an entire ballet costume from a design rendering (of the "plate tutu" style). Sometimes these projects are underwritten by ballet companies, who provide the rendering and materials and receive the costumes in return. This year, unfortunately, ballet companies are quite strapped for cash and could not participate, so all the grads did theirs as conceptual projects instead.
L to R: Men's speed-lace corset for The Illusion (costume design by Marion Williams)
Ladies foundation corset for Amadeus (costume design by Bill Black)
ombre dyed ballet bodice, part of masters thesis
All created by Jacki Blakeney Armit
Lace dress from Glass Menagerie (costume design by Jan Chambers)
Silk and cotton coat from The Illusion (costume design by Marion Williams)
Both created by Amanda Phillips
Velvet and zipper-tape doublet for Romeo and Juliet (costume design by Olivera Gajik)
Created by Amanda Phillips
"Lady Capulet" gown from Romeo and Juliet (costume design by Olivera Gajik)
"Katerina Cavalieri" gown from Amadeus (costume design by Bill Black)
"Mrs Bennett" gown from Pride & Prejudice (costume design by Camille Assaf-Doshi)
All created by Amanda Phillips
L to R: 1960s ladies overcoat and suit for Doubt (costume design by Jan Chambers),
Lace cotillion dress from Glass Menagerie (costume design by Jan Chambers)
1930s evening gown for period pattern class
All created by Jacki Blakeney Armit
Background: "Salieri" coat, waistcoat, and breeches from Amadeus (costume design by Bill Black)
Coat and waistcoat for "Mr Darcy" from Pride & Prejudice (costume design by Camille Assaf-Doshi)
All created by B. Daniel Weger
Foreground: five millinery projects, shibori yardage, and wax resist piece by Shanna Parks
ballet bodice and tutu by Amanda Phillips
Historical Reproduction
As part of their masters thesis, our graduate students choose an antique garment from our Costume Archive. They fully examine it and write an analytical research paper about it--anything known about its provenance, a discussion of it as an historical example of its time, an analysis of its construction details, a catalog of damage it has sustained, etc. They then reproduce the garment exactly in a different size, sourcing all materials, creating or dyeing any specialized elements required, and so forth.
Another element of the thesis is the historical corset. The students do extensive research on a particular period of corset and then create it. This is in addition to the corsets they create for mainstage shows and other class projects.
Foreground: antique bodice from the Costume Archive
On form: reproduction by Jacki Blakeney Armit
(at left you can see a pair of fight choreographer's gloves and a 1940s felt hat,
examples of Jacki's "Decorative Arts" class projects)
detail shot of antique bodice
detail shot of reproduction by Jacki Blakeney Armit
back view showing the little pleats around the center back hook/eye closure
Foreground: antique bodice from the Costume Archive
In rear: reproduction by Amanda Phillips
(The flash made these look like 2 drastically different blues; in "real life" they match.)
detail shot of antique bodice
detail shot of reproduction by Amanda Phillips
Foreground: 19th century frock coat from the Costume Archive
On form: reproduction by B. Daniel Weger
(This is a pretty crappy photo of these--i blame the pain pills.)
Black satin spoon-busk corset with red flossing by B. Daniel Weger,
displayed with some of his research images. (Wish this were on a body!)
Crafts Class Projects:
Many of the students exhibited projects created in my series of crafts courses--they're easy to arrange several on a table, and they've all done such great work.
From left: life cast and Fosshape commedia mask with matrix sculpture,
1920s spiral straw sun hat with ribbon embroidered sunflower,
Samurai helmet and gorget reproduction of thermoplastic/wire/lacing,
beaded pillbox and blocked felt "Kentucky Derby" hat,
and carrot-colored wool ladies spats, all by Jacki Blakeney Armit
Women's leather breastplate and parasol by Amy A. Page
From left: matinee-length gloves with inset/jewel detail,
handmade horn hammer and leather commedia mask,
cast Neoprene oversized monkey mask, all by Amy A. Page
Resist piece and beaded turquoise leaf tiara by Amanda Phillips
Technical Direction
Other than occasionally hitting them up for some woodworking or welding help or taking care of their dye requests, i don't have too much crossover with the TD program students. I took some photos of a few of their displays though!
Working lamp and metal crown by Laura Merola
Turned wood pieces, spear, crown, and set draft by Todd Aberts
Several metal and woodwork pieces by Sarah Hebron, Miranda Holder, Rodney James, and Kyle Longwell
(I may have the credit wrong here--i blame the pain pills.)
I also realized in editing these that i missed photographing a whole section of the exhibit--a couple of tables worth and a bank of forms--and for that i apologize to those students whose work was featured that didn't make it into this post. Next year, maybe i won't be on medication when i go, and will be better able to fully document the displays.
Mainstage Work
These pieces were on display to reflect examples of the types of costumes our graduates produce for the PlayMakers mainstage. PlayMakers is an Equity house and member of the League of Regional Theatres. The productions are costumed by our on-site facility, in which our graduate students serve as drapers, first hands, management assistants, or crafts assistants (in tandem with the professional staff such as myself).
Also in this section, i have a couple images of their ballet projects. As part of their masters thesis, third-year graduates create an entire ballet costume from a design rendering (of the "plate tutu" style). Sometimes these projects are underwritten by ballet companies, who provide the rendering and materials and receive the costumes in return. This year, unfortunately, ballet companies are quite strapped for cash and could not participate, so all the grads did theirs as conceptual projects instead.
L to R: Men's speed-lace corset for The Illusion (costume design by Marion Williams)
Ladies foundation corset for Amadeus (costume design by Bill Black)
ombre dyed ballet bodice, part of masters thesis
All created by Jacki Blakeney Armit
Lace dress from Glass Menagerie (costume design by Jan Chambers)
Silk and cotton coat from The Illusion (costume design by Marion Williams)
Both created by Amanda Phillips
Velvet and zipper-tape doublet for Romeo and Juliet (costume design by Olivera Gajik)
Created by Amanda Phillips
"Lady Capulet" gown from Romeo and Juliet (costume design by Olivera Gajik)
"Katerina Cavalieri" gown from Amadeus (costume design by Bill Black)
"Mrs Bennett" gown from Pride & Prejudice (costume design by Camille Assaf-Doshi)
All created by Amanda Phillips
L to R: 1960s ladies overcoat and suit for Doubt (costume design by Jan Chambers),
Lace cotillion dress from Glass Menagerie (costume design by Jan Chambers)
1930s evening gown for period pattern class
All created by Jacki Blakeney Armit
Background: "Salieri" coat, waistcoat, and breeches from Amadeus (costume design by Bill Black)
Coat and waistcoat for "Mr Darcy" from Pride & Prejudice (costume design by Camille Assaf-Doshi)
All created by B. Daniel Weger
Foreground: five millinery projects, shibori yardage, and wax resist piece by Shanna Parks
ballet bodice and tutu by Amanda Phillips
Historical Reproduction
As part of their masters thesis, our graduate students choose an antique garment from our Costume Archive. They fully examine it and write an analytical research paper about it--anything known about its provenance, a discussion of it as an historical example of its time, an analysis of its construction details, a catalog of damage it has sustained, etc. They then reproduce the garment exactly in a different size, sourcing all materials, creating or dyeing any specialized elements required, and so forth.
Another element of the thesis is the historical corset. The students do extensive research on a particular period of corset and then create it. This is in addition to the corsets they create for mainstage shows and other class projects.
Foreground: antique bodice from the Costume Archive
On form: reproduction by Jacki Blakeney Armit
(at left you can see a pair of fight choreographer's gloves and a 1940s felt hat,
examples of Jacki's "Decorative Arts" class projects)
detail shot of antique bodice
detail shot of reproduction by Jacki Blakeney Armit
back view showing the little pleats around the center back hook/eye closure
Foreground: antique bodice from the Costume Archive
In rear: reproduction by Amanda Phillips
(The flash made these look like 2 drastically different blues; in "real life" they match.)
detail shot of antique bodice
detail shot of reproduction by Amanda Phillips
Foreground: 19th century frock coat from the Costume Archive
On form: reproduction by B. Daniel Weger
(This is a pretty crappy photo of these--i blame the pain pills.)
Black satin spoon-busk corset with red flossing by B. Daniel Weger,
displayed with some of his research images. (Wish this were on a body!)
Crafts Class Projects:
Many of the students exhibited projects created in my series of crafts courses--they're easy to arrange several on a table, and they've all done such great work.
From left: life cast and Fosshape commedia mask with matrix sculpture,
1920s spiral straw sun hat with ribbon embroidered sunflower,
Samurai helmet and gorget reproduction of thermoplastic/wire/lacing,
beaded pillbox and blocked felt "Kentucky Derby" hat,
and carrot-colored wool ladies spats, all by Jacki Blakeney Armit
Women's leather breastplate and parasol by Amy A. Page
From left: matinee-length gloves with inset/jewel detail,
handmade horn hammer and leather commedia mask,
cast Neoprene oversized monkey mask, all by Amy A. Page
Resist piece and beaded turquoise leaf tiara by Amanda Phillips
Technical Direction
Other than occasionally hitting them up for some woodworking or welding help or taking care of their dye requests, i don't have too much crossover with the TD program students. I took some photos of a few of their displays though!
Working lamp and metal crown by Laura Merola
Turned wood pieces, spear, crown, and set draft by Todd Aberts
Several metal and woodwork pieces by Sarah Hebron, Miranda Holder, Rodney James, and Kyle Longwell
(I may have the credit wrong here--i blame the pain pills.)
I also realized in editing these that i missed photographing a whole section of the exhibit--a couple of tables worth and a bank of forms--and for that i apologize to those students whose work was featured that didn't make it into this post. Next year, maybe i won't be on medication when i go, and will be better able to fully document the displays.
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no subject
Date: 2009-04-30 04:22 pm (UTC)(A note, though: your link to the Costume Archive leads back to this post!)
no subject
Date: 2009-04-30 04:24 pm (UTC)And, thank you! I'm a big fan of the repros, too.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-30 09:48 pm (UTC)