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About this Project

The Temporary Nature of Ideas was a large-scale, four-story, interactive rooftop installation featured at the 2009 Transmodern Festival. In action for the three nights of the festival, as well as during the opening night of Emily C-D's "Off the Wall" show, the installation grew as participants (patrons of the festival) added their own elements using provided materials.

"Participants are encouraged to use the provided materials to make an object in honor of an unexplored or abandoned idea. They are invited to create a special tribute to this idea, once alive in thier mind’s eye, but now retired and unrealized. When they finish the object is sent downward on a pulley into the space, where it is placed lovingly amidst the growing landscape."

The actions of re-appropriating the participant's "idea objects" were done by costumed performers, Melissa Webb and Theresa Columbus, who were stationed inside the installation for the duration of the festival. Roving costumed performers, Spoon Popkin and Lee Sinowski roamed the 4 floors of the festival, encouraging festival-goers to make an object in order to take part in the piece.

Instrumental technical support was provided by Scott Pennington and aminibigcircus, and instructional illustrations were provided by Paige Shuttleworth. Photography by Eddie Winter.

About this Project

A live performance for the Transmodern Festival in 2007. Created by Melissa Webb, M. Jane Taylor, and Company.

Opulent overlings and unprepossessing underlings glide and tromp forth in a frolicsome… yet begrudging display. A highbrow coterie of long-legged, albeit dainty darlings shares a stilted co-existence with a lowbrow crew of the submissive stripe. …A walk in the park with the Chic She’s and Shabby He’s of yester-year...

In the original living installation, stilted ladies in turn of the century dress sip tea, sniff flowers, eat cupcakes, and open gifts at their tall table. Hard-laboring garden gnomes provide them this luxurious lifestyle.

At first the gnomes work happily, but soon become disgruntled due to decreased break-times and excessive use of their bodies for croquet wickets. A passionate protest ensues…

The ladies’ loyal butler tries to moderate to no avail… until they are offered peace in the form of cupcakes.

Satisfied (for now) they get back to their work. And so the cycle continues…

Photos by Uli Loskot and Alexander Webb

About this Project

Featured at Artscape 2007, Ceci n'est pas a Booth, Kiosk or Gazebo and Other Radical Shacks, Curated by Laure Drogoul- A continuation of the Uppity Ladies Saga, the gnome characters get themselves a booth at Artscape, and sell twigs, moss, pinecones, and other woodland offerings for $1 each. Created by Melissa Webb, M. Jane Taylor, and Company.

Photos by Melissa Webb

About this Project

Costume and performance for aminibigcircus' production of "Sorry for the Coldfusion", at The Theatre Project, and The Creative Alliance (2008). aminibigcircus is a collaborative group specializing in live performance, film, and music.

Photos by Scott Pennington

About this Project

A costume photoshoot, featuring members of aminibigcircus. These pictures were taken in the abandoned Enchanted Forest, in 2004. The still images were used in a narrated video story, which has accompanied an aminibigcircus performance for the Transmodern Festival. Costumes featured are "The Blue-Green Goddess" aka "The Swamp Nymph", "The Psychic Gardner", and the "Sweet Swirl Girl" aka the "Bathtub Fairy". All three costume pieces were created separately for their own sake, and integrated into this photo narrative.

Photos by aminibigcircus

About this Project

The Grassman was a necessary diversion from female-centric themes and costumes, as my male collaborators needed something to wear as well! Two were made, and with them performers explored the idea of becoming part of one's environment, of blending in or camouflaging.

Photos by aminibigcircus

About this Project

This set of costumes was originally intended to be one, but evolved into three... Individually titled "The Maiden", "The Mother", and "The Crone". Used throughout aminibigcircus' "Cari Amici, Our Magic Show Moovee" in the "Solitude Suite" scenes.

Photos by Alexander Webb

About this Project

I created the "Ghost Bride" after I heard a moving story about a woman who lost her life in the collapse of the Twin Towers only days after her wedding. The detail on the bodice is unpainted cast porcelain orange skin. The mask is rimmed with painted ram-horn nuts, and is textured with white rice.

Photos by Uli Loskot

About this Project

The "Death Dance Bird" was created specifically for "Cari Amici, Our Magic Show Moovee" by aminibigcircus. It was used in a scene where a character looses his life, and describes the transformation his spirit makes as it leaves his body.

Photography by Uli Loskot

About this Project

Topiary Woman was photographed by Lisa Dietrich at Ledeau Topiary Gardens.