2007 - While working at the Centre for Arts & Technology, I helped to organize the students for the Halifax Parade of Lights event and actually got the school to fund costumes for our entry. I was planning on adding new costumes each year with the budget but unfortunately the designs below never got made.
ENIGMA 1991
Model - Susan Pfeiffer
Enigma is one of a series of The New Gods Pantheon that I have envisioned.
The first created in this series, modeled by Myself at Ad Astra 11 in Toronto. Canada in 1991.
In a time where the faith in the old gods & the sacrificial god have lapsed; humanity has turned to entities that represent the changing times. We see deities created from the discarded leavings of Man; plastic bags, plastic utensils, plastic canisters, clear tape, bubble wrap, straws, exposed film, celluloid, cassette tape, video tape, CDs, laser discs, rubber bands, tires, latex, tinfoil, aluminum, wire, string, thread, cloths. An enigma is a type of riddle generally expressed in radical or allegorical language that requires ingenuity and careful thought for its solution.
The role of this deity in itself is not clearly defined as in many things of this age.
This costume was specifically created to compete for The Great White North’s Costumers Guild Award for Creative use of Theme, Materials and Design that was announced for the Ad Astra 11 Masquerade. I was studying Animation at Sheridan during the creation and parts of many student film went into its creation.
AWARDS: Best Artisan Class; Great White North’s Costumers Guild Award for Creative use of Theme, Materials and Design
Jasmine, Jafar & Aladdin 1992
Models - Deborah Abbot & Dan Abraham
Created in Oakville ON
Worn for an ISSA Costume party we held second year. My friend Dan had asked me to make him Aladdin pants and I thought it would be cool to convince Jeff and Deb to dress up as Jafar and Slave Jasmine. We had a lot of fun!
Puss N’ Boots 1986
Model - Susan Pfeiffer
Created first for Halloween while attending Mt. Allison University, Sackville NB
Entered in Halcon 9, Halifax NS - I had a series of 3 costumes that year, I was presented with a unique category win “Costume Designer”.
Ice Maiden 1986
Model - Pauline Jones
Created while attending Mt. Allison University, Sackville NB
Entered in Halcon 9, Halifax
This costume presented a few issues I needed to work around. My model Pauline Jones ‘blossomed’ and required some alterations to the design during the presentation fitting. I also had to sew Pauline into the outfit which wasn’t an issue until later in the day when she needed to use the facilities.
The majority of the costume was made from my Mom’s discarded living room shears, economical on the pocket. The material also had a wonderful ‘flow’ to them when in movement, most of my direction for the model was move yourself and your arms around gracefully.
AWARDS: Best in Show Halcon 9, Most Beautiful Halcon 9
Red Design 1986
This costume was a napkin sketch I made for one of my Beaverbank Live Gaming girlfriends.
It was created for her by her mom, I believe.
Entered in Halcon 9, Halifax NS
Black Unicorn 198?
Model - Krista Olmstead
Created in Halifax, NS
Entered in Wolfcon ?, Wolfville, NS
Created from an illustration I made with my BFF Krista in mind.
The horn was created from upholstery foam that I carved into a spiral; it was attached by hot glue to a metal head piece. I’d like to re-create this costume, as it was quickly made I had less time to ‘fit’ it to my model as I would have liked and it deserved.
Krista entered the room covered in a floor length cloak, stopped mid stage, thru the cloak off and stated “Stick and stones may break my bones, but whips and chains excite me!”
AWARDS: Most Thermodynamic (An impromptu new award – described as Costume that generates the most heat when it enters the room)
Zebra Girl - Make Up
Model - Ann Marie Feetham
Wolfcon #?, Wolfville, NS
Fire Fairy
Model - Krista Olmstead
Created in Halifax, NS
Entered in Wolfcon #?, Wolfville, NS
This costume is an Recycle Upscale Dress: take a second hand dress, creatively shred it & mod shape, adding fabric shreds back on - voila Fairy 🙂
Gypsies
Model - Susan Pfeiffer, Military friend
Created in Halifax, NS
Worn for a Shearwater Halloween Dance, Dartmouth
Sarah, Labyrinth Inspired
Created in Halifax, NS
Entered in Wolfcon #?, Wolfville, NS
Most of the work on this costume is the headpiece which was recreated from the film. The dress is a gorgeous Junk & Foibles find (second hand store I loved at the time in Halifax - no longer around).
Miscellaneous Costumes and Make-up I've made for myself and others over the years.
