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Evolution of a skirt

11/28/2014

Leading up to our shoot in Cambria, I had been working on this skirt, on and off, for over a year. And what a fantastic end result! With the right model, MUA, and photographer, a year of piecing and sewing is made well worth the effort.

'Joyeux' set, 'Pas de Berlin' Series 2014
model Berlin * photographer Todd Powers * MUAH Ande Castaneda
scale mail Todd Powers * skirt Jen Raven * concept direction provided by Jen Raven

But long before the construction of this skirt began, the fabric itself was being weathered for me by an unsuspecting army of models; the yardage for both underskirt and over-skirt have provided background,

property, and costume elements for dozens of Todd's photo shoots over the last seven years. This yardage has been through every kind of shoot, from studio to location; this fabric has been dragged through the dirt, drowned in the Kern River, wrapped around models, tacked against two-by-fours, and hung from the rafters.

I often prefer that my costume fabrics be properly worn and weathered before I begin construction; I like the way they drape, and move, after they've experienced the world a bit and have developed some character of their own. There are ways to speed up the weathering process in the shop or studio, but given how much shooting Todd does, it's easier for me to toss my yardage into his props bins, and let the Todd and the models take it from there.

After removing areas that were a bit over-worn, or torn, and cutting out the largest pieces for the two main sections of the over skirt: The smaller and connecting portions of the over skirt were pieced together using scraps culled from the remaining lace yardage. Over sixty different bits of lace were pieced together, to create the entire over skirt, which also has ribbon channels sewn into the front and back, so that it may be ruched higher for a different look. The three-tiered tail addition to the skirt, which is detachable, required an additional two dozen pieces of lace yardage for it's overlay. All of the trim was sewn on by hand. A black cotton underskirt, beneath the blue polyester skirt, provides stability and comfort for the entire garment --three skirts in all.

Of course, Studio Cat had her part to play, in this costume's construction:

I set out to create an elaborate costume piece that would adjust, to fit many different sizes; the side laces can be drawn tight or let out, and the box pleats in back can easily be let out or taken in; the waist in the cotton underskirt is quilted, partly due to the piecing of the lace yardage on top; this waist is strong, and holds basting stitches easily, so there is no damage to the outer skirts. Also, for the purposes of this shoot, the hem of the skirt was raised a full six inches --again, easily done thanks to the cotton underskirt, and no damage done to the delicate, weathered polyester. This skirt stood up to a romp in the ocean and the climb of a massive boulder, on location:

BTS: 'Pas de Berlin ' team on location in Cambria, Ca 2014
photographer Todd Powers * model Berlin * MUAH Ande Castaneda
scale mail Todd Powers * skirt and accessories Jen Raven
concept direction provided by Jen Raven

'Joyeux' set edits, 'Pas de Berlin' series 2014. photos and editing by Todd Powers

Want more? Full collection of BTS photos from 'Pas de Berlin' here!
Read more about this year-long project here and here!

Todd creating the scale mail top for our 'Joyeux' set

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Eye Spy . . .

11/24/2014

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'Coda' was the final segment in our 'Pas de Berlin' series, and my preparation for this shoot began months in advance. A backdrop canvas had to be painted; set and costume pieces had to be built, schedules had to be coordinated. After the shoot, the set and costume lilies were dis-assembled and re-made, into individual works of art, for the gallery exhibit.

Portfolio shots of my Lily creations by Todd Powers:

Lilies on display in the gallery, with the artwork:

In-studio creation of the lily vines; individual elements are altered, painted, assembled, and then re-assembled:

On set, day of shoot: Backdrop and props are set up, just before Model Berlin arrives in makeup, courtesy of our skilled makeup artist, Ande Castaneda. Berlin has to be further altered with body paint, moss, costume vines and lilies, before the shoot begins:

'Coda' was shot in three separate segments: First, Berlin becomes acquainted with Lily, representative of her hard-fought, and hard-sought, transformation (she is 'seeing' her pain, recognizing and accepting it). Next, we remove the Lily prop as Berlin dances, embodying the Lily spirit (relying on dance, she works her way though the pain). Finally, Berlin is re-created; now a fierce, powerful Lily, she is stronger for having embraced and accepted all parts of herself -both light, and dark (by taking ownership of her pain and grief, she also gains control over these strong energies; she now has the skills to bend those strong energies to her own will, use them as she sees fit).

'Coda' Set, 'Pas de Berlin' series 2014 *model Berlin * photographer Todd Powers * MUAH Ande Castaneda
costume, accessories, properties by Jen Raven * concept direction provided by Jen Raven

"I found I was able to be comfortable using the movements of my dancing experience to draw emotion into my modeling. It was rather healing. I took a step back and realized in some aspect this (modeling) is like dancing. In ballet or lyrical, whether I was having a good day or bad, I would portray that into my choreography, and how ever you may have danced that day, your raw emotions poured out for everyone to see, who understood. In some shoots I found myself crying or tearing up after, it was like a performance I poured my heart into, a performance that was rather healing for me. This was the right way to heal, the method I’d been searching for. I began to eat right, exercise, travel, I met some amazing people (from the art community) who continue to stay by my side, and most of all I began to heal, to sleep again at night, to forgive myself, to just. be. happy. for myself. I genuinely still am. I didn’t realize how dead I was as a person until I met the right people who set me down a better path. I am forever grateful. Art does save."

~excerpt from 'A Broken Recovery' by Berlin

We named the final shot of the final set 'Coda' and it was used in creating the event graphics for advertizing the exhibit:

I am so very grateful that I had the opportunity, to experience this marvelous, year-long collaboration. What an amazing team. What an uplifting experience it has all been!

See more behind-the-scenes photos and video from this collaboration here!

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Pas de Berlin: Behind the Scenes

11/9/2014

Our exhibit opens this weekend at The Empty Space Gallery, and we can finally share all of our behind-the-scenes photos, collected over the last twelve months!
This has been an incredible adventure. I love these people, I've loved working with them, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with them on this project.

Behind-the-Scenes photos from location shoots two, three, and four,
Hart Park, CA. April 2014:

BTS photos from location shoots seven and eight,
Cambria, CA. September 2014:

BTS photos from in-studio shoots one, five, six, and nine,
The Raven's nest, CA. Nov. '13 - Oct. '14:

Lovely Behind-the-Scenes video footage captured and edited by Ande Castaneda:

'Pas de Berlin' Photography Exhibit
Photographer: Todd Powers
Model: Berlin
Makeup and Hair Artist: Ande Castaneda
Concept Direction, Costume and Set Design: Jen Raven

Read more about this exhibit here!

Pas de Berlin: A Year in Photos

11/7/2014

'Pas de Berlin' is a unique collection of concept photography, captured by photographer Todd Powers. Spanning twelve months of work themed on tragedy, courage, and recovery, this body of work creates for the viewer a stunning visual narrative, following the progress of a young woman, Berlin.

As she dances her way through a series of eight different landscapes, each representing a new stage in her journey, Berlin boldly takes on the grieving process, and breaks it down into visual elements, determined not only to heal herself, but also, hopefully, to help others who are grieving find peace, as well.

This innovative team is rounded out by makeup and hair artist Ande Castaneda, with concept direction provided throughout by Jen Raven. Together, they have created a body of work which chronicles twelve months of collective curative exploration.

For more information about this series, including behind-the-scenes photos:

Epaulement and Avant Sets
Danseuse Set
Joyeux Set

Coda Set

Behind the Scenes

'Pas de Berlin' exhibit photography by Todd Powers
Model Berlin - MUAH Ande Castaneda - Concept Direction provided by Jen Raven

Artist Bios:

Jen Raven is an artist in acrylics, assemblage, and the performance arts. She holds a degree in English Literature; her awards include an Arts in the Community Grant from the Arts Council of Kern, and three consecutive Empty Space Awards for Best Gallery Exhibit. Raven has most recently exhibited with Bunny Gunner Gallery in Claremont, Loft Beats Gallery in Pomona, and The Gallery at the LRC, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine.

Todd Powers is a concepts photographer with a fine arts background. He studied printmaking, figure-drawing, painting and sculpture at Bakersfield College. Powers has exhibited his photography with Loft Beats, Pomona Arts Colony, and with The Gallery at the LRC, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine. His work has been published in Bakotopia Magazine, The Bakersfield Californian, and Fashion Bombshell.

Berlin is a dancer, model, and Biology major at San Diego City College, studying toward becoming an Emergency Room Physician. She has had over eight years of formal dance training in various styles, with a focus on ballet and lyrical. Berlin has appeared in several publications, including ICING Magazine, and continues to work as a model throughout Southern California.

Ande Castaneda is a Bakersfield native, working in Southern California. A self taught makeup artist and formally trained photographer, she also holds four various certifications, two Associate's degrees, and is working toward her first Bachelor's degree in English (with Single Subject Prep), as well as her Cosmetology license. Her work can be seen in music videos, blogs, movies, and magazines internationally.

Lovely Behind-the-Scenes video footage captured and edited by Ande Castaneda:

November 7, 2014: The Empty Space Gallery will open an exhibition to the public featuring The transformative photography of Todd Powers.

'Pas de Berlin' is a unique collection of concept photography, spanning twelve months of work themed on tragedy, courage, and recovery. This body of work creates for the viewer a stunning visual narrative, following the progress of a young woman, Berlin, as she dances her way through a series of eight different landscapes, each representing a new stage in her journey.

A local photographer, who studied Art at Bakersfield College, Powers says he prefers concepts to any other form of photography; "I find concepts to be creatively satisfying, and enjoy the challenge of communicating ideas visually --allowing elements within the photo tell a story, through sets, costumes, lighting, and body language." In this, Powers says he is fortunate to be working with model Berlin, whose skills as a dancer (trained in ballet and lyrical styles) lend extra dimension to her performance as a model. Says Powers, "She knows how to translate her strong emotions into movements. That's a valuable skill for a concept model."

In creating this body of work, Powers also collaborated with makeup artist Ande Castaneda, who cleverly combined both traditional beauty, and high concept looks, to stunning effect on model Berlin. "I had been looking for an opportunity to color outside the lines a bit," Castaneda jokes. The fourth and final artist to take part in this project, Jen Raven, expressed gratitude for this opportunity to work with such a dynamic team. In addition to providing concept direction throughout, Raven created many of the costumes, accessories, and properties for the shoots --some of which will be on display in the gallery.

Exhibit runs November 7th through the 29th, 2014.

Please join us in celebration of 'Pas de Berlin' at our artist reception on Saturday, November 15, from 2-5pm. There will be music, refreshments, and a short video segment of one of the shoots, created by Ande Castaneda.

Dia de los Muertos 2014

11/1/2014

Photos above: Dia de los Muertos 2014
Photographers Todd Powers and Ande Castaneda
Models Berlin and Lucy Cruz
Hair Styles by Jen Raven and Ande Castaneda
Makeup Artist Ande Castaneda
Body Art and Hair Accessories by Jen Raven
Wardrobe by Jen Raven and Lucy Cruz
Special thanks to Fortino Alvarez

Photo left: BTS with artist Jen Raven and model Lucy Cruz
Photo below: BTS with Fortino Alvzrez, Todd Powers,
Jen Raven, Ande Castaneda, Berlin, Lucy Cruz

I love the shoots that Ande has dubbed "Play Dates," when we get together as a group, create and learn with one another, and have a lot of fun along the way! Many thanks to Todd, Ande, Berlin, Lucy, and Fortino.

Evolution of a skirt

Eye Spy . . .

Pas de Berlin: Behind the Scenes

Pas de Berlin: A Year in Photos

Dia de los Muertos 2014

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