Langara College’s Paper Dresses

When I was a teacher, I taught drama and I had to do extra-curricular shows with my students twice a year. On one occasion, I did a series of short plays with them so that we could take them to old age homes and hospitals to entertain shut-ins.

It went well until we went to our first hospital. When we got there, two of my student actors just could not handle what they were seeing — the patients. I’d grown up with an institutionalized mother, so it was my first experience with people who could not handle seeing people with disabilities. They meant no offence to the patients; they apologized and expressed disappointment in themselves but they could not do the show.

That experience is helping me accept (and not take personally) being dumped by some people since becoming a person who stutters and has seizures.

I’m not surprised that some friends cannot understand or accept what’s going on with me. Not even some doctors understand psychogenic disorders — hence my impending visiting to a neurologist as some doctors continue to search for pathology to explain my symptoms. I’m certain their search will be in vain.

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My designer friend, who lives in London, has sold some designs to a huge international retail chain. His designs are going to be applied to stroller blankets sold by the company. I absolutely love his designs and selling a design series to a global retail chain is a huge accomplishment. I’m really proud of him.

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How horrible is the weather? So wet that for lack of other things to do on Wednesday, I cleaned out both my storage lockers. Whoever handles my estate is going to appreciate that I liked getting rid of things as much as getting things.

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Here are photos of the paper dresses I went with Cathy to see on Thursday. I thought they were original creations, but they aren’t; they are paper interpretations of real dresses. A photo of the real haute couture dress is displayed with each paper dress.

Also they are built onto the mannequins. They are sculptures, like mine, not dresses. They cannot be worn. But as sculptures, they are lovely. They were done my students in Langara College’s fashion design program. Here are my photos:

Trumptoons - Batch #8

Brent & Rob

Brent

Wednesday’s brunch was wonderful because we had a surprise guest. Brent Carver, the nicest most talented man you could ever meet, joined us. He’s here to do four concerts of a show he did at Stratford that includes songs he loves, songs he sang on the Broadway stage, and songs from others of his past shows. When I got home from lunch, I went to bed. There’s no denying how much socializing taxes me now.

In the evening, late: a surprise visit from Rob. He’s the closest thing to a boyfriend I have.

I’m in the “eye of the storm,” in the gap between conviction and doubt while I wait to hear about the residency from Boca. Andrea said it would take “two-to-four weeks.” I sure would like to get some partners in this Defiant Dress venture!

Les quotidiens

Les quotidiens: Tuesday afternoon Dwight called from Hawaii and told me to go to the site of an online webcam. So I did while he stayed on the line. And when the camera started rolling, he waved at the camera and I could see him walking on the beach from way above him — kind of a drone’s eye view, but I could see him waving to me. It was so much fun.  

At a gallery opening recently I ran into a man I’d met once long ago — Peter —and when I told him about my idiot dresses he said a man named Ivan should see them. He called Ivan and told Ivan about me and that I’d be calling. Then Peter sent me an email telling me what he’d done and to contact Ivan. Yea right — me call a total stranger on the phone. Not likely, especially since Ivan is Ivan Sayers the most famous costume historian in town.

But I did it. I called Ivan out of a sense of obligation to Peter. Consequently, in two weeks Ivan is coming her for champagne and canapés and to see my dresses — and so is Peter. It’s going to be odd/interesting, I’m sure. But I’m glad I have done this.

Oakridge Shopping Centre is hosting an exhibition of paper dresses. It opens today; I’m hoping to go tomorrow and I’m kind of excited about seeing it.

Today’s big deal is a lunch with a bunch of friends. We all went to UBC together and all of them (but not me) belonged to the musical theatre club. I’ve earned my way into their group because I share their passions.

Le Robe défiant: I’m now working on the letters. I need one for every dress to reveal its provenance. The completed Defiant Dress project requires thirteen dresses, twelve letters and the script. I have six dresses and five letters left to do.

I decided not to make more dresses a while back. I don’t have space for them. I will only do them if my show goes into production. So if Boca says, No, I will need something else to work on and it has to be something that takes no space — or… I have to get a storage locker for the existing dresses and do the rest I’ve left to do.