Sterling Gets Character

I was sad to find myself uninspired when I realized after the workshop that Allan would need another costume for his scene as Sterling Christopher. I was not looking forward to another 100+ hours and more sewing.

Yes, I loved making the costumes, but that is what it is to be me. Once I have done something new, and feel satisfied that I have mastered the art or craft or skill, I don’t want to do it again. I want to do something new that I haven’t done before.

But when I woke up yesterday, I got an email from my friend Bruce who is in Florence and then read my friend Beth’s blog who is in Paris and that got me in the mood to look at some great art on my computer to compensate for the museums I do not have access to and about which they are constantly writing.

And as soon as I saw one of those ridiculous Flemish collars, I was off. Hence the collar that you see in yesterday’s post… and that collar inspired a character for Sterling: He will be a Flemish fop—I love that word “fop” — but a poor fop, not a rich one.

In she show, Sterling is me—me in my own imagination, so Sterling is supposed to be how I see myself in a scene with Vivicean. She is a cartoon; she is a characterization of all the women who opposed my plans to professionalize Presentation House. I was taking their sandbox away from them. So it is true to make him a fop. And I think making fun of myself in this piece apt wherein I am author, performer, designer and costume and prop maker.

So today, Sunday, with the rain pouring down, the sky dark and lots of choices of fabulous movies to watch via Apple TV, I am stoked about making this costume because last night inspiration hit.

I had this idea: I was sure Shoppers Drug Mart, which is just down the street, would sell cotton balls for women to use to remove their make up and if they did, I was going to make Sterling a pompom shirt. I loved the idea of that and sure enough, they sold a bag of 300 little cotton balls.