The craziest thing happened this week that was such a delightful surprise. A little back story:
At the beginning of the pandemic, the Costume Industry Coalition, led by Brian Blythe, was born as a way to support NY based makers and artisans that are part of the theatrical ecosystem. So many highly gifted technicians and artisans are independent contractors or small businesses and every one of them, like any small business this past year, has a long road of recovery.
CIC launched a public campaign to save the industry with some creative projects with the adjacent result of shining a light on the whole process in a way that hadn’t been publicized past some videos on the American Theatre Wing YouTube channel.
As Broadway reopens, and New York City recovers, a temporary exhibit featuring this work was conceived, opening in Times Square this week as a fundraiser to help CIC members continue to bridge rent gaps and cover other expenses until theatre is fully reopened. Imagine my surprise when a former student who was at the industry preview on Tuesday sent me this:
I knew the exhibit was happening but didn’t know it was called “Showstoppers.” To say I was floored is an understatement. A couple of hours later I got another lovely note from my former teacher, the recently retired Maggie Raywood, with her congratulations. I reached out to Bethany Joy, the maker who is featured, to thank her. Then, on Thursday, the day of the official opening, I got an email from Chris Muller, another NYU alum with with intersecting paths as part of ATCA, at Thinc Design letting me know my designs were on display.
When I moved from NYC in 2002 to take my teaching position at Michigan, it was one of the few times in my life when I was aware that a choice I was making was going to completely alter the path of my life. I was also aware that I was essentially severing my New York ties, at least professionally. I had very real reasons for deciding that was the thing to do, and almost 20 years later, I am still glad I made that choice and know it was the right one. Seeing my name in the New York Times back in the ‘90s mattered, but with our move to Ann Arbor, it was no longer a priority. That said, it would be an oversimplification and misstatement to say those connections don’t matter. As I wrote to Bethany this week, “I am actually quite emotional. I am a midwestern soccer mom who had one magical summer in the big leagues (Santa Fe Opera). The focus of that exhibit is 100% percent about the amazing work that happens in the shops, but I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me to have my design represented there. I have no idea how those decisions came about, but I am so very grateful.”
This moment in particular, as I wrote to my student, I am shouldering new responsibilities, and my identity as a “designer” is taking a backseat to my temporary role of interim departmental Chair. Having my designs in that space, part of the professional costume community was a perfectly timed reminder that I am still a part of that ecosystem in a small way.
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