Category Archives: Costume design & production

This is a subcategory of Ruby’s portfolio. Use it to group/order posts related to your costume design/production work.

Large scale community projects

 

As an artist I am concerned with all wastage endemic in our society.   By sourcing large amounts of used packaging waste to make enormous interactive public instalation sculpture I am demonstrating the amount of materials freely available.  I aim to include as many people as possible in my art installations.

Sustainablity Symposium at James Cook University

JCU declares war on waste

Video tape dresses and moulded plastic costumes will be paraded by the ARC Ensemble at James Cook University on April 11.

The parade and performance by the ARC Ensemble will be a feature of JCU’s Sustainability Symposium and Fair, Challenging Consumerism: The War on Waste, at the Cairns campus.

Artist and student Ruby Boussard said the costumes which were made from 100 per cent recycled and reclaimed materials including packaging found in rubbish bins, were an ideal way to show how these materials could have another life.

After marching through the courtyard and around Founders Green in their recycled costumes, the ARC Ensemble will be on stage at JCU’s Cairns Institute on April 11 for their performance of Sprucing Shakespeare.

Sheridan Lawton of ARC Disability Services said Tropical Arts has been bringing ARC members into ‘Shakespeare at the Tanks’ for the past four years.

For the 2013 production this was further supported by a JCU Action for Sustainability Fund, allowing Ms Boussard to conduct 100 per cent recycled costuming workshops with the ARC Ensemble.

“This ensured all the participants were comfortable in their costumes, participated in their making and had the opportunity to consider the advantages of using second hand materials and clothes,” Ms Boussard said.

“The Parade and Performance at the upcoming Sustainability Symposium is the final celebration of this process.”
In addition to the program of speakers, the free event incorporates workshops including recycled craft, a clothes swap, food, live music and stalls featuring the Kuranda Seed Savers and the Saltwater Creek Basketry Group. To register go to alumni.jcu.edu.au/2014SusSympFair

The ARC Ensemble will also be participating in this year’s Tropical Arts production of “Much Ado About Dragons” at the Tanks Arts Centre in October.

 

The first costume try on at the Tanks

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The very first try-on with real actors of costumes.  The video star range were clearly a sucess, but my ideas about breast-plates less so.  The actors noticed the branding on the plastic, which I had not been looking at.  I had only been thinking about the colours red, white and blue.

Wearable Art – First Prize a the Cairns Regional Show

First Prize at the Regional Show!

Wearable Art is a new category at the Show this year.  I jumped at the chance to make something that has been on my mind for a very long time.  Just before going on stage I found out that first prize was a trip to Brisbane to compete at the EKKA.  More details coming soon. I’m looking forward to working on more  pieces in the future and have already been commissioned to do a Tropical Mother Christmas!

Thanks to Kristy Cumming (Sales Director for Mary Kay Cairns) for doing make-up and faulse eyelashes and Thanks to Erica and Ryley (College Cuts) for amazing hair work.

Describe your outfit:

Box-Strap Bustier.

I am fascinated with beautiful things and three dimensional construction techniques.

I have experimented and sculpted with diverse materials and always choose reclaimed objects.  My sculptures are 100% recycled.

Box straps are flexible and strong and can be easily woven into a variety of shapes without loosing form.  They are a forgiving materials that is a pleasure to work with, the white colour looks like crystal.

Transforming materials with an industrial background into wearable beautiful objects is enormously satisfying.  I aim to increase awareness of reusable materials that are regularly thrown away.

Type of Outfit:
‘Risky’ Corsetry for fancy occasions

Materials:
box straps
striped down electricity cables
(100% reclaimed/recycled materials: no glue/stables have been used).

Below are the criteria that the outfit was judged on.  I don’t know my score, but I think I need to work on the overall finishing.

WEARABLE ART
Overall finishing to garment. 10
Has the outfit been sewn by entrant? If Yes 10
Suitability of fabric/materials used for the class entered. 10
Artistic Design. 20
Visual Impact of the garment for the desired artistic effect. 50
TOTAL POINTS 100