It's also a bit of a costume contest being that it fall on Halloween weekend. What's really cool are all the awards are in the "Dia de los muertos" theme. It sounds crazy but last year I also decided to run the race for fun and participated in costume. Seeing as I traditionally don't take the easy route I decided to make a costume to suit my tastes and creative freedom. Several of my friends who were running also decided to costume-up. We decided on the group theme of super heroes and villains, i went as the Riddler and gave my costume it's own flair with a touch of home made silkscreen and some remnants of el wire. It was not only a thrill that the costume actually came out good but I also won the costume contest and brought home a slick hand made trophy.
This year I've decided to try and notch one up on the costume. Again I could not find a costume or pieces of what I wanted to suit my themed goal... so once again, I'm making it from scratch. After a couple of visits to the fabric stores and a few of my favorite online Maker sites I've got all the pieces. The critical part and lesson learned (the hard way) last year was NOT to make the costume one piece, as it was a real pain in the ass to disrobe every time I had to pee. This year, 2 pieces! I picked up a cheap running top and using some old running tights that have been sitting around for years I have the basis for a skeletal print. You would be surprised that nobody sells a front and back print of a skeleton outfit. Not to worry as a little research and proper fabric paint will yield exactly what I'm looking for. I may not be the best artist in this medium but I'm proud of it being home made, and not only that, once it's all put together it will certainly have some 'Wow' factor... 'course that's assuming the vision in my head can be physically reproduced even part way. We'll know in a couple of weeks.
My biggest concern is that I want to keep as authentic as I can since this particular outfit I'm creating could be construed slightly controversial amongst cultural beliefs. True celebrations of Day of the Dead are held passionately with the people that take part in the tradition. It's a celebration of the lives that were lived by ancestors. Since the race actually begins on the first day (of the two day) celebration I wanted to honor the day in my own way. It's with hope that it does not offend as I'm not trying to take away from the heritage of this day, nor poke fun at it. Personally I think it's a wonderful way to deal with lost ones and revisit and honor the great lives they hopefully lived. My twist is to take a sort of Caballero style and give it some modern day electronics seeing as I'll be using it mostly at night in the middle of the dessert while I'm all alone.
Here is a bit of progress so far:
Painting is completed and now begins the testing of the el wire and lots of fragile soldering and sewing.
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