Page 18 - the NOISE October 2013

Lick Me Love Me by cover artist Christine Golden is an example of the sculptor’s craft.
SWeet dreAmS Are mAde of tHeSe
Featured on this edition’s cover is a sculp- ture by Christine Golden. I last talked with Ms. Golden when she was an exhibitor in the Coconino Center for the Arts’ show, “Across the Divide.” Currently she is working on a new body of work for her upcoming show at Gal- lery One13 this November.
I ask about one of the pieces, Lick Me, Love Me. “My work as a whole explores the human experience,” Ms. Golden tells me. I know that is a huge concept that encompasses so much, but for me it is essentially the minutia of our daily lives and the accumulation of events that make up the anatomy of our existence. Each one of my sculptures becomes a psychological portrait. They illustrate both a celebration of flesh as well as the vulnerability of flesh. They often have a sensual or seductive nature while, at the same time, exposing our weaknesses and flaws. Giving them the ability to repulse and attract simultaneously. Lick Me, Love Me, in particular was a series of about five pieces I made a few years ago that illustrates our need as humans to cling to things that are precious to us, whether it is a relationship, object, or sense of security. We often disregard the tenu- ousness of security and stability, blithely float- ing on our clouds ... until the bubble bursts.”
This theme of clinging continues on in a recently finished piece, John, Nancy and Lars. “Like Lick Me, Love Me, this piece illustrates
our need as humans to form attachments to objects, animals, and people for comfort and a sense of security,” Ms. Golden continues. “I was making this piece as a portrait of the complexity of relationships when Hurricane Sandy struck. Time and again we saw images of bewildered people staring at the wreckage of their homes, searching through rubble for their undamaged possessions, and clinging to
their pets and family members. All of a sud- den, the figures I was sculpting, their relation- ship to one another and their few possessions seemed more significant. So I made the rem- nants of a home where they could continue to rely on each other for comfort, blithely uncon- cerned with their precarious situation.”
“I made a series of these pieces while I was at an artist residency at the red Lodge Clay Center in Montana,” Ms. Golden begins to tell me about a piece titled Sweet Dreams 2, fea- tured on this month’s cover. “These pieces deal with the subconscious, in particular where our minds wander when we sleep or in those rare occasions when we are truly alone and un- occupied. Stylized eye shapes make up the headdress of Sweet Dreams 2 and a large eye is painted on the back of her head. I did this to illustrate how our subconscious has a way of confronting us with issues about ourselves that we ignore or avoid. These quiet reflec- tions and revelations often happen when we are cloaked in night, vulnerable to our sleep.”
The sculptures of Ms. Golden have ranged between smaller wall-pieces to life-sized in- stallments. I enquire about the process of constructing these realistic and detailed works.
“Part of my creative process is capturing events or specific moods that resonate with me, and distilling them down to a collective impres- sion,” she says. “Sometimes my own personal experiences greatly affect my work, as with Sweet Dreams 2, and sometimes outside events have a large impact on my work, as was the case with John, Nancy and Lars. As far as creat- ing each piece, I construct each figure using a series of hollow slab cylinders. The cylinders are pushed from the inside and paddled from the outside until they resembled a human form. I always fire my pieces multiple times to
build up the surfaces. Cold surface treatments like paint, pastels, or wax are frequently used in the final stages to accentuate the form or mood.” ChristineGolden.com
CuStom CoStumeS
Have you ever had that dream where you walk into a room, and there are racks of color- ful, elaborate costumes: Belly Dancing outfits, renaissance dresses, fairies, characters, you name it — it’s there? Walking into Tommy’s Costumes is very much like that dream, except it’s real, and he has created this treasure chest of costumes over time. Tommy Elias tells me about himself, “I relocated to Flagstaff just over a year ago from Palm Springs where I started my custom costume business. Tommy’s Cos- tumes creates custom costumes and offers fantastic rentals to the community of Flag- staff. The concept of the business is to have my guests feel like they’re picking a fun outfit out of my closet. I’m a native Phoenician and originally came to Flagstaff in 2001 where I completed my degree in Theatre Design with an emphasis in costuming from NAU. I loved this town then and coming back was the best decision I could have made. The magic of Flag- staff has opened many doors and created so many exciting opportunities for me.”
I ask how Mr. Elias first became interested in sewing, “I grew up in theatre and always had a love for playing characters and playing dress up. I always wanted involved costumes for Halloween. At the age of 10, my mother taught me how to use her sewing machine and said, ‘Have at it.’ My first big costume was at the age of 14, I made an Aztec dancer costume complete with a half circle pheasant feathered headdress.”
Inspiration comes from different avenues
for Mr. Elias, “For my rental stock, I mostly look through my racks and think about what char- acter is missing. My favorite inspiration is on my custom costume orders where I get to col- laborate with someone in making their dream fantasy character come to life.”
As we stand around his work table Mr. Elias shows me the newest fabrics from a recent buying trip for the commissions he is work- ing on — a female Neptune, a water lily fairy, a peacock and Eve. Fabric spills over the table and has the look of water for Neptune’s flow- ing skirt. The costume artist leafs through his sketch books so I can better imagine the fin- ished pieces. I ask if he has a favorite piece, “As its developing,” he says. “The peacock is be- coming my favorite. The corset, the mask, the plumes! Movie wise, I would say Iceman in Top Gun, shower scene. What a towel.”
I ask Mr. Elias who he’s going to be for Hal- loween. “Iceman,” he says, figuring by the time he completes his Halloween commissions the towel costume will be easy enough to conjure.
“If you want to make an impression at a themed party, win some contests and get people talking, you’ll want to give me a call or send me a text to schedule an appointment,” Mr. Elias says. His custom costumes offer a wide variety to suit many ideas and Halloween Fantasies. Tommy’s Costumes is located at 2 S. Beaver Street Suite 240, and he advises to call or text ahead of time to make an appoint- ment. Mr. Elias will be premiering some of his newest and favorite costumes at the Green Room during the First Friday ArtWalk on Oc- tober 4. His creations will be taking the run- way from 6-6:30PM. Mr. Elias will also have a full runway exhibition at the Orionid Meteor Shower Soiree & Art Bazaar October 20 at the Orpheum Theater. 928/380-8947 Face- book.com/tommyscostumes
18 • october 2013 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us