King for a Day investigates how costuming allows people to become what they aspire to be-- agents in their own visual and symbolic representation, celebrating self-expression and individuality. This installation illustrates the accessibility and craftsmanship of costuming and the unique social imprint it has on New Orleans culture.

King For A Day was a 2018 immersive installation and community event space that revealed how carnival costuming acts as a platform for social engagement across diverse communities in New Orleans. The show paired costume designers often left out of the Carnival Costuming narrative with installation artists to create a space that represents the stories and history of their costume making, and then held panel discussions and workshops within that space.

The exhibit seeks to highlight the costumes and cultures of groups that have historically been marginalized - people of color, queer people, women, and those with limited access to resources. Their creative concepts and visual representations push back against societal expectations.

I curated and directed the show with the award winning documentarian, Lindsey Phillips, at Antenna Gallery in New Orleans, with support from the Jazz & Heritage Foundation.

Featured Costumers:

Alana Harris (The Creole Belle Baby Dolls)

Scott Garrett  (Leather mechanic and designer  for Lords of Leather, Petronius, Armenious)

Laron Nelson (Royalty costume creator for Zulu, Athena, Femme Fatale)

Drew Ziegler (Luke Warm Dude Pumas Wearing Food Pants)
Installation designers and fabricators: Hannah Patterson, Ethan Kiermaier, Scott Garrett, Drew Ziegler, Zibby Jahns and Meredith Younger

Curators: Zibby Jahns & Lindsey Phillips