Barb Wallace is one of 17 designers participating in this year’s High Ball Halloween Costume Couture Fashion Showdown.  I spoke with a very enthusiastic Barb Wallace about her many inspirations for this year’s four garments.  The crafty Wallace gathers mainly clothing from thrift stores around Columbus as a base for a garment.

“I have always used this style,” Wallace said.  “I see so much potential in every story!”  Wallace also searches for inspiration in magazines and incorporates them into her one of a kind thrifty design’s.  Wallace’s four pieces are designed around rocker yet feminine look incorporating studs, embellishments, chains, black skinny pants, ruffles, and other unique accessories.
Each designer is also creating a garment for the High Ball Costume Contest, which is open to the public.  Last year thousands of people created one of kind costumes that shocked even the most professional designers.

“It is so fun to see what everyone comes up with!” Wallace added.  “The costume I created for the costume contest is a juxtaposition of an industrial/organic look.  The look is inspired by a rooftop garden, a steel background with flowers cascading down the dress.” Wallace said.
Halloween is that time when you can let it all go! We are excited to see Barb’s designs, as well as the costumes from the rest of the designers.

Last week we interviewed HighBall host Nina West on various Halloween “things”

What was your favorite part of HighBall last year?

Nina West: The people and the amount of people was my favorite part. The energy last year was amazing and unexpected how crazy the crowd got, crazy in a good way! But the people are amazing and it’s really a huge melting pot of different types of people at HighBall, which makes this event so unique.

What do you think the judges are looking for in a winner for the Costume Couture Fashion Show?

N.W: After last year, I think the judges are looking for decadency & creativity.  Last year the judges looked for the most creative costume.  A costume that is jaw dropping and stand outs out should win the attention from the judges.   Halloween has always been a place where you can go the extra mile

What are you planning on asking Althea Harper?

N.W: I would ask her if she ever thought she would make it that far on Project Runway? Since she has never done a reality show, which is something very stressful, and thinking should would go so far?

What are you doing to prepare for HighBall this year?

N.W: I am trying to keep an even head while keeping in mind the size and scope of the event, as well as the large crowd.  This is the largest event I have ever hosted, which I am very excited about!   I want to make sure I do the community proud, I love this area. I have lived in Short North for almost 10 years and I am really excited to be a part of HighBall Halloween.

What are you planning on wearing?

N.W: It is a surprise of course!

What was Nina’s favorite outfit that she wore last year?

N.W: The Short North arches, people loved it.  Everyone wanted pictures with me! I loved it because we were in Short North under the arches, it was very fun.

What performances do we have to look forward to from Nina West?

N.W: This is Thriller! Thriller night…

What was your favorite performance you did last year?

N.W: My favorite thing, other than the crowd, is the community of the neighborhood, the business owners helping out and volunteers.  I didn’t have one favorite performance, I just wanted to make sure everyone was entertained.  But I love the whole atmosphere and of course the overwhelming sense of community is always so fun.

Does Nina have any tips for the Kings and Queens Costume Contestants?

N.W: GO BIG!! If your going to go in drag, which is common, you have to GO big, big hair, crazy makeup, outlandish drag costume. Don’t buy something at forever 21 and call it a day.  What is lost about drag is that it is an art form in itself. Going big is the theme of the event, being noticed! Don’t hesitate to do what you want to do, because the theme is masquerade!

Are you used to performing in front of predominantly gay audiences?

N.W: I usually perform large scale rehearsed productions that are very theatrical. But what makes Short North very special is that drag has become more mainstream..the transition in the last four years has really taken over.

How does this audience differ from other venues?

N.W: I have to take into consideration who is in the crowd and maintain a strong filter. This is not a small crowd! This event brings in a diverse group of people and…I am character, I am a man in a dress and there are people who have not always been around a drag queen, so I cannot be a threatening character.  But I have always been about entertaining people and I know how to do that.  I want to make everyone feel comfortable and engaged into the show.

What would you say the biggest difference is between HighBall Halloween and a typical Halloween Party?

N.W: This is an event that is open to anybody yet geared towards a specific clientele. This is a night you can be whoever you want to be! HBH is for everyone and what they feel Halloween means to them.

Are the costumes different at HighBall Halloween?

N.W: The costumes are mixed… some are very scary. What makes HBH so awesome are the costumes… they are decadent, gorgeous, grotesque, yet all somehow beautiful, but it is expected, it’s Halloween!

Is the event amplifed by being in the Short North District?

N.W: This event is embraced in a neighborhood marked by difference.  This is the gay center of the city & the arts center of the city.  Short North & HighBall give people a creative license to try something new.  People come in from the suburbs might go all out, in the spirit of the season.  The Short North District is truly an amazing cross section.

How did people react to you off stage?

N.W: Last year I walked around a lot and talked with people. Their comfort level could really adjust when I got into the mix. People were taking pictures then adding me on Facebook, it was just really fun.  Everyone was so cool.

Anything else?

N.W: I am really excited for this weekend! I cannot wait to see what everyone comes up with.

With 7 days until HighBall Halloween, pagetech limited and TechArt Productions are working hard finalizing details.

“It takes months of preparation for an event of this size,” explains Dan Brightfellar, TechArt Sales Representative. “There are lots of individual pieces that have to all work together like a tinker-toy.”

The production process starts with the overall event concept. The vision. The experience. From street layout, stage placement, food vendor placement, trash dumpsters, porta-johns, beverage tents, gates and all the rest, the specifics of the event are taken into consideration. Then the team of designers from pagetech and TechArt merge all the ideas and prepare a final layout design based on functionality and execution.

“The challenge is always trying to bring everyone’s great ideas together to make it all fit within budget.” says Jeremy Andrews, TechArt Production Manager.

The designers then give Jeremy the specs so he can devise a plan of implementation to delegate to the leads of each department. For HighBall, the Lighting team will build 4 struts for the stage plus lighting throughout the event. The Video team will construct four large screens; two on stage and one at each end of High Street at the gates. The Sound team will set up three full speaker systems to create an enclosed sound zone as if the audience is stepping into an outdoor nightclub. The Stage and Rigging team will construct an 80 ft runway with a frame built on all four sides that is 25 feet high.

Jeremy says, “I don’t really think people know the amount of time this all takes, but our philosophy is always Make It Happen.”
The day of the event a crew of 20-25 people will start at 6am and will have everything set up by 4pm.  “The entire production process is very exciting because it takes the vision and brings it to life.  We look forward to giving the crowd a genuine ‘WOW’ moment.”  Jeremy concludes.

Don’t miss HighBall Halloween Masquarade on High Street (between 5th and 3rd) Saturday, October 31st!

www.highballhalloween.com

HighBall Halloween is just around the corner and creating a costume for your little one may be haunting your bank account. Here are a few tips to help you save money and create a show-stopping ensemble for your little pumpkin.

• Bunch of grapes: Take purple, green or red pajamas and cover them with round balloons of the same color. Make two large leaves out of paper and attach them to two sides of a brown or green cap to make the stem.
• Bubble gum on a shoe: Take a pink hoodie, sew a flip flop on the top of the hood and call yourself bubble gum stuck on a shoe. Chew bubble gum, of course, and girls can even add pink blush.
• Picnic: Find a red-and-white checkered shirt. Tack on paper plates, plastic utensils and a plastic cup to the back like a place setting. Add sunglasses, a basket and/or a hotdog.
• Bouquet of flowers: Take a colorful hoodie and attach silk or plastic flowers and greenery all over it like a flower arrangement. Tie some cellophane or brown paper around the hips with an index card (gift card) sticking out.

(Above tips courtesy RuBen Permel, head of wardrobe at Cirque du Soleil’s new Elvis show at Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter in Las Vegas.)

• Mummy: Wrap rolls of gauze around the child, leaving plenty of room around the mouth and eyes for them to breathe and see. Be sure that no long strings of gauze are dragging behind them that could cause them to trip or get snagged.

(Above tip courtesy Jack Ricks, Head of Wardrobe at Zumanity at New York New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.)

Grab your kids and their favorite pillow case because HighBall Halloween is just around the corner!

Mini Masqueraders are welcome to trick or treat down High Street as shops will be handing out candy treats throughout the district.  This special trick or treat starts at 1:00pm and lasts until 3:30pm on Saturday the 31st.

The fun follows for the little ones starting at 4:00 p.m. for the “Mini-Masques” Costume Contest.

Costume Registration is 2-3:45 p.m.

But wait, THERE’S MORE…
The Mini-Masques Categories are:

• Best Circus Star
• Best Super Hero
• Best Kids Book Character
• Funniest
• Most Original
• Best of Show!

Each category winner receives a special gift prize!

We hope to see you all there!!! It is going to be a HighBall Halloween to remember.

CALLING COSTUME-CRAZED PET OWNERS!!

Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Competition

Hosted by Posh Pets and Three Dog Bakery

HighBall Halloween isn’t only for people…Disguise your Dalmatian, suit up your Saint and gussy up your Golden for an All Hallow’s Eve Dogtober Procession right down High Street.

Dog’s from all over Columbus will be strutting their fur down the runway from 5:30-6pm during HighBall Halloween.  Registration begins at 4 p.m.

Get there early to reserve your pooch a place on the runway!!

http://www.threedogcolumbus.com/

http://www.threedogcolumbus.com/

Kevin Kerr is more than just a local Columbus designer involved in this year’s High Ball Halloween Couture Fashion Showdown.  Kevin is the winner of 2008’s HighBall designer competition. His gorgeous Winter Queen costume wowed the judges and stole the show. What’s he planning for 2009?

Kevin Kerr’s 2008 High Ball Couture Fashion Showdown Winning Design.

For this year’s runway collection…

His inspirations stem from 1960’s models and actresses: Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Veruschka.  Kerr’s garments are simple pieces with oversized handmade mod jewelry. Researching fashion and old magazines helped Kerr with his 1960’s inspired theme. “I think these looks might be the next big thing,” Kerr said.

For his Couture Costume…

All Kerr will reveal is: “The piece will be something exotic, bird like. I am currently searching for fabrics. It’s a work in progress!”

Hmmm. Sounds mysterious!

We asked Kevin what he is most excited about for High Ball and he responded: “The creativity is incredible. People who aren’t professionals come up with amazing things! It is so fun to walk around and look at everyone’s creations.”

Check out Kevin’s creations at HighBall Halloween’s, Saturday, October 31^st. The Costume Couture Fashion Showdown begins at 8pm on the Costume Specialties runway at 4th Ave and High Street under the Short North arches. See you there.

HighBall presented by pagetech limited is THE masquerade event experience of the Midwest. On Saturday, October 31, All Hallow’s Eve, the Arts District brings back the sensational HighBall Halloween: Masquerade on High. A cross between Carnivale and Mardi Gras with a pinch of Halloween and a healthy splash of the Short North’s artistic spirit. Picture an 80-foot runway directly on High Street under the glowing arches. Do you have what it takes to be selected for the runway? Thousands will try. 40 will make it. One will win HighBall Halloween Costume of the Year.

The event will feature outrageous costume contests for the general public, a Couture Costume Fashion Showdown for fashion professionals, the Dogtober Howlloween

Procession for costume-crazed pet owners, Mini-Masques costume contest for children, the city’s hottest DJs, and all the artistic creativity one would expect of the Short North. $5,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to participants in the various competitions. And don’t forget Project Runway designers Althea Harper (Season 6) and Terri Stevens (Season 5).

Rising Star Althea Harper Will Hit the Runway with Original Designs and Help Judge Costume Contest

Dayton-born clothing designer Althea Harper was drawn to fashion at an early age. And on Saturday, October 31, this 24-year-old “Project Runway 6” contestant will be drawn back to Ohio as celebrity judge and featureddesigner for Columbus’ second annual HighBall Halloween.

This fashion-focused extravaganza will feature an 80-foot runway, professional models, live entertainment and a costume competition for fashion designers. Adults, children and pets will also compete for prizes, bragging rights and a moment in the spotlight. The theme for this year’s festival is “Cirque.”

A Young Designer Hits her Stride

Althea Harper is no stranger to visionary fashion design. “As a student, Althea was always thinking way beyond her skill set and pushing herself,” recalls Margie Voelker-Ferrier, professor and coordinator at University ofCincinnati (College of Design Art Architecture and Planning). “I think Althea has a beautiful aesthetic … she always makes women feel beautiful and elegant.”

The Project Runway judges clearly share Voelker-Ferrier’s view. As of this writing, Harper has edged out nineother contestants to reach Round 9 of the show. She’s won one of the weekly challenges, and she’s never been among the bottom three.

High-Powered Judges at HighBall Halloween ‘09

This year, Harper and her former professor will join a roster of industry professionals to help judge yourHalloween costume at the HighBall Halloween Costume Contest.

Do you have what it takes to make the HighBall runway?

Thousands will try. 40 will make it. One will win HighBall Costume of the Year. Come at 9:30 and show

Contest categories are:

• Best Celebrity Lookalike (sponsored by the Arena Grand Movie Theatre)
• Cirque Fantasy
• Best Tag Team (for teams of two or more people)
• Best King and Queen (drag, that is!)
• Simply Fabulous!

For more information about the costume contest, HighBall Halloween, and Althea Harper, visit HighBallHalloween.com.

blog content provided by Christa Sidman

Althea Harper

Althea Harper