Statement & CV

I am, above all, a maker. I’m studying fiber art and costuming for theatre at Indiana University. I have a background in costuming for both theatre and cosplay. Growing up online has greatly shaped how I engage with media and creation, and ultimately the art I make is a synthesis of all of these parts of me.

 My work is centered around the exploration of applying fiber arts in costume making, with a focus on materiality and storytelling. I employ sewing, weaving, dyeing, beading, foamsmithing, resin casting, crocheting, and other techniques to bring characters into the real world. The characters I create are inspired by my participation in online communities, like the furry community and fandom. For me, making is vital. I pour my soul into my work through my hands through the meditative motion of needle through fabric. I direct this focus into extended projects, spending months and up to a year focused on a single piece, placing intention in every little detail. I take pride in my drive to learn new skills and revel in the breadth of techniques I employ across my work. 

Costuming and cosplay is a way to explore performance without the pressure of being on stage. It’s a way to connect with people with shared interests, and to explore my identity and all its quirks through the safety of a mask. By donning a costume, I both conceal myself physically and find the means to express parts of myself that are harder to bring to the surface normally. Beyond just my own expression, my costumes can contribute to a modern storytelling tradition through the act of myth-making. By using costumes to chronicle the stories and legends of existing characters, and creating new ones, I bring physical realizations of fictional worlds to life. I create objects that have a voice of their own, both speaking to and about the narratives they contain. 

My current project, a cosplay of the late Minecraft YouTuber Technoblade’s in-game avatar, who served as a character in many different stories, allows me to celebrate his memory and the stories he and his friends created. Through every little detail incorporated into the costume, I share his legacy and, and I hope to do this for many more characters in the future. This project is a synthesis of the importance of online communities to me, my love for the game Minecraft in general, and a way to keep Technoblade’s memory alive the best way I know how–creation.