Captain King Midas was spiffed up after Highball 2022 & submitted into the World of WearableArt application process in March 2023! In July I was notified that he made the stage show & I quickly clamored together a gofundme to raise money to go see my piece on the global stage in Wellington, New Zealand.
While he was not selected by the judges for any of the awards, Captain King Midas WAS selected for a 2 page spread in the collectable program introducing the Gold Section. I am BEYOND (The title of 2023’s show) honored to have my piece onstage with so many other beautiful works of art & I look forward to entering and hopefully participating again in the future! I definitely found more people to add to my creative family. The whole experience has revitalized this maker’s soul.
Photography: Larry Hamill, Randall L. Schieber, Kate Heitkamp, Tony Bentivegna, & Dave Toth
Hair/MU: Phia Salon
Models:
Shroom- Anita Rhynes
Snail- Janaya Davis
Hart- Rian Is
Moth- Wendy Hartman
Once Upon a Time
On a Midsummer’s Night
In a Fairytale Dream
Where you might find a Sprite
Antique Lace & Heirloom Doilies
Mingle on the stage with Neon Bright
They fly, May Strut
Glide or Rave
But what creatures shall party with these Faye
Collection Won 2nd Place at Highball Halloween
Photography by: Randall Schieber, Jerri Shafer, & Ian C Powell
Hair/MU by: Annah Davis & Assisted by Jaime Fry
Models:
Captain King Midas- David G
Wraith Pirate (Anne Boney)- Wendy Hartman
Wraith Pirate (Anita Booty)- Anita Rhynes
Pirate (Jewels Diamond)- Alex Landexter
Pirate (Obsidian)- Rian Ismadia
Pirate (Sassy McGee)- Gennifer Davis
Hands now Tentacles
Twisted in Greedy Wet Nets
Deeply Cursed in Gold
This was a collection of Classic Halloween Monsters that have jumped out of books, lurked on the American Silver Screen, and haunted radio waves. Each monster is loosely inspired by the historical time period & culture from which they materialized. The technologies & sciences mingled in their lore inspired use of unconventional materials & a personal exploration of why people fear what we don’t know.
Monster Mash place 2nd in the Highball Halloween Costume Couture Contest.
Various Photos by: Tony Bentivegna, Larry Hamill, and Steve Malone
Hair & MU by Phia Salon
Models: Mummy- Annie Ratanapan, Frankenstein’s Monster: Rian Is, Witch Doctor: Jessica Rose, Purple Person w. Phone: Anita McFarren Rhynes, Purple Person w. Eyepad: Wendy Hartman, and 1Eyed 1Horned Flying Purple People Eater: Brandon Alexander
The whole idea for this Highball Halloween collection/costume was to escape crazy 2020 COVID pandemic world. I wanted to get away as far as I could imagine. However, I also have faith that our universe is a Rockstar and that we will continue on.
Theme: ROCK E.T. (A play on both Rock Extraterrestrial and Rocket) Space Punk
Materials: Lots of shiny “space” fabrics, Safety pins, and hardware used as trims.
The Models are members of a punk band: the Astronaut is the drummer (model: Wendy Hartman), the Alien (model: Anita McFarren Rhynes) has a Key-tar, & the Galaxy (model: Jessica Rose) is a Rockstar Guitarist!
Hair & Makep by Phia Salon
Photo Creds: All pics 2020 were actually taken by myself :)
Collection Won 2nd Place at Highball Halloween
It’s funny when you look back on how worked up you got over a past incident… (I like to think this is why this collection has a clown like feel) I had a mental breakdown. An emotional crisis centering around our family's need for our own home/house. Questions on what an ideal home would be, what has been home in the past, why is this process so freaking hard, WAVES of depression, FLARES of frustration, OVERWHELMING GUSTS of anxiety at the lack of control in the chaos led to ELE-MENTAL.
Models: Earth- Melissa Gould, Water- Jereatha Heriot, Fire- Brandon Alexander, Wind- Wendy Hartman
Hair/MU: Phia Salon
Photos by: Heff’s Studio & Design & Ian C Powell
Collection placed 2nd at Highball Halloween
This 2nd place collection for Highball Halloween 's 10th year was inspired by The Little Mermaid! To avoid delving into Cosplay too much I not only aimed to use modern fashionable silhouettes but also unconventional materials. Each of these looks features re-purposed men's neckties (Ariel's skirt & bra trim, Ursula's suckers & tentacle trim, Sebastian's pants & claws, Scuttle's Romper & sleeve trim, & Flounder's Dress). I also incorporated hand beaded/sequined applique, glitter, & real bubbles came out of Scuttle's pipe, Sebastian's claw, Flounder's shark, & Ursula's tentacles. Models: Melissa Gould, Jessica Rose, Wendy Hartman, Lanre Elemide, & Kimberly Baur. Hair/MU: Phia Salon, Photographers (click on image to see more of their work) Abbey Cowan, Ian C. Powell, Randall L. Schieber, Amanda Bentivegna, Tony Bentivegna, & Mahendran P.
1st year to compete in the "Ready Wear" & Couture Costume Contest all on my own! This collection of Highball Halloween exclusives was inspired by Art History & this "painterly" group complete with hand beaded/sequined applique's, handpainted touches on nearly EVERY clothing item/accessory, lights & moving parts WON! The Starry Night by Van Gogh was the inspiration for the finale Costume. Fragonard's The Swing was my Rococo selection. The Mona Lisa by DaVinci represented the Renaissance & a cave painting from Lascaux, France was my inspiration for my paleolithic/cave people. Models: DaRissa Moore, Dr. Russell Fillmore, Jessica Rose, Wendy Hartman, Anthony Verdi, Anita Rhynes, Mandi Newhard, & Thomas Newhard. Hair/MU: Phia Salon, Photographers (click on image to go to their website) Andrew Blight, Allison Colvin, Ian C. Powell, Heather Reeves, & Mandy Moore.
Sophia Fifner, Mrs. Ohio United States 2019 and her Jeni’s Ice Cream themed costume
I have had the great pleasure of costuming numerous pieces for New Vision Dance Co. These are some of my favorites thus far! Click on the image to be sent to the photographer’s info!
Jereatha Heriot’s 2022 Miss Plus World North America Turtle Island Costume
Swirling tulle hand woven through chicken wire, rhinestoned flags, turtle head crown, and lights are just some of the detailed features of this costume.
Mrs. Buckeye State Plus America 2018, Jereatha Heriot, contacted me to create an Ohio State themed Costume to compete at the Miss Plus America Pageant in July 2018. Here is a little more info about this costume that took FIRST place at the pageant.
Her original idea was to be a ladybug to reference the state bug but I took it to that EXTRA place that I like to do.
I wanted to keep spots like a ladybug but to turn them into Buckeyes, I wanted to include the state bird (cardinal), the state flower (red carnations), and then I got super crazy and threw in a TON of references to all kinds of inventions that have come from Ohio or people born in Ohio.
Did you know that Ohio is considered the birthplace of inventions from the smallest everyday pop tab, to the brilliance of Edison’s light bulbs & the wrights brothers themselves! Here is some more:
Thomas Alva Edison from Milan Ohio invented the light bulb , Elisha Gray born in Barnesville oh developed telephone prototype at nearly the exact same time as Alexander Graham Bell... still hotly debated who used the “liquid transmitter” first , Akron is the rubber capital of world bc of Charles goodyear in 1839, Pop top can by Ermal Fraze in Kettering Ohio in 60s, the Wright brothers were born in Dayton Ohio…. and truly the list continues/I ran out of space on one look.
The light bulbs on the vintage airplane wings lit up, and her pop tab covered propeller spun around and revealed a Columubs Ohio Zoo license plate. In preliminary talks she would pair the costume with the silver telephone hat and rubber rain boots, however those were cut in the process. I had so much fun creating what in my mind would be the ultimate “Ohio State Costume” and I am so pleased that it won.
Insectum Spectrum was a collection for Highball Halloween in collaboration with Ashley Wills. This featured a mantis, beetle, butterfly & the magical tree they all called home. This collection claimed 3rd place in the Costume Couture Contest.
Models: DaRissa Jay'scene Hayes Moore, Madison Wilz, Ludie Senatus, Jessica Rose
Hair: Phia Salon
Makeup: Ludie Senatus
Dolled Up was the WINNING collection for Highball Halloween in collaboration with Ashley Wills. This collection featured a broken china ballerina, a ragdoll, a harlequin doll & the conjoined twins who own & enjoy them on the stage of their skirt.
Models: Angela Darr-Kuehnle, Wendy Jobes Hartman, Kristin Laymon, Jessica Rose, Abby Bowman
Hair: Phia Salon
Makeup: Reverse Vanity Spa
This was Shiree's first time in Highball Halloween's main Costume Couture contest for Highball! She was paired with Shann Santos (who created a beautiful resort line for this event) & created this over the top paradise bird inspired by Shann's work.
Model: Wendy Jobes Hartman
Hair: Phia Salon
Makeup: Reverse Vanity Spa
2009 marked Shiree's first experience with Highball Halloween. Charly Bauer was in charge of guiding 4 students from The Ohio State University Theatre Department as they competed against eachother in a student competition. Shiree took home first place with this Elizzzabethan inspired take on a Bee.
Model: Wendy Jobes Hartman
Wig & Makeup: Shiree Houf
New Albany Middle School’s amazing Theatre director, Melissa Gould asked if I would be interested in creating 4 god costumes for this show & I got SUPER PUMPED. I was allowed near complete artistic freedom, given a couple thrifted prom dresses and let loose!
I was SO EXCITED to use fabrics from all over the world/fabrics that are inspired by countries with warmer climates! I had collected most of them over years from a myriad of friends and family who have traveled abroad and brought me back the best souvenirs (pieces of fabric!).
Creating these outfits, staffs, & headpieces was simply a joy. To do so for such a talented & kind group of kids who clearly have a passion for the art of theatre was A BLESSING to my life.
This production took place on October 18 &20th 2018 at the McCoy Center
Photos by Todd Sloan Photography
This was CATCO’s contribution to central Ohio’s celebration of the Harlem Renaissance. Eubie! took Broadway by storm when it premiered in 1978. This revue featured the music of famous jazz/swing musician Eubie Blake and contains twelve songs from the landmark 1921 production of Shuffle Along.
This production took place September 7-15 2018 at the Lincoln Theatre
Photos by DiBlasio Photography
This was a 9 look collection for the 2018 Alternative Fashion Week Grand Finale Show. Each look was a different animal & the collection referred to the animals in unique ways with giant hand sequined appliques, tongue-in-cheek phrasing, & luxe meets street/comfy cocktail vibes. The majority of the fabrics used derived from upcycled clothing/linens from local thrift stores.
Photography on this page (click on image to visit their facebook pages) features: Ian C. Powell Photography, Bobby & Isolda Music Photography, & Tony Bentivegna Photography.
Hair & Makeup: Paul Mitchell School
Models!
Zebra/BEST INTERN EVER: Valerie Gilbert
Bear/HUSBIE: Donald Houf
Giraffe: Jessica Rose
Lion: Viktoriya Vasilizhenko
Fish: Olivia Vance
Tiger: Alisha Bush
Rhino: Forman C Smith
Penguin: Kalie Hord
Flamingo: Stephanie Hearne
Also.... My Daughters as Elephant & Unicorn :)
These unique hats were commissioned by Stephanie Stein for the Opening Session of the 2016 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions World Library and Information Congress that took place here in Columbus.
Gorgeous Model: DaRissa Jay'scene Hayes Moore
Beautiful Photography: http://khalifestylephotography.com/
Stephanie Stein connected me with the NATAS Ohio Valley Chapter, for whom I was honored to take a crack at creating a Living Emmy Statue as close to the statuette as possible! Darci was an aMAZing model who posed for nearly 2 hours with little to no breaks & I was lucky enough to attend the event (check out the pic of me wearing a gown I designed/created)
