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Ziggy before & after

James has been finishing his dissertation, and with me it's been one Glitter Emergency emergency after another. Certain household chores have been neglected, like grooming the dog.

This became intolerable after two people in one week shared their opinion that Ziggy was getting fat.

A few days ago Ziggy's Andis Easy Clip Clipper Kit arrived in the mail and last night, while James was preparing to be in Kevin Clarke's completely amazing Space Oddity number at Trannyshack, I put Ziggy on the kitchen table and gave him a haircut.

The Glitter Emergency Part II: I am full of fire and music

Monday, first day of shooting for The Glitter Emergency, began at dawn and ended many agonies and ecstasies later. Here are some of the results:

Paul Festa as Stringendo in THE GLITTER EMERGENCY

Music by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

Queericulum and the Glitter Emergency concentration

With the Center for Sex and Culture, the congenitally glittery boys and girls over at Comfort & Joy - a Burning Man camp that spreads playa dust (the good kind) throughout the year in SF - is hosting a daylong series of classes and parties tomorrow (Saturday March 13) that include a seminar that can help you get your Glitter Emergency fashion together in time for our big shooting party which is this coming Thursday March 18th at the Supperclub. Capping the day of classes is the ultimate extracurricular activity - the Queericulum Glitter Prom. I'll be the one in seven-inch silver glitter platform boots. They just came in today's mail. You are going to die when you see them.

Queericulum details here.

The Glitter Emergency Part I: How to glitterbomb a violin

Sorry for vanishing - I've been in preproduction for a new film. It's called The Glitter Emergency and it combines elements of silent film, music video, dance film and drag number, set to the second and third movements of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto performed by yours truly, live or canned. The video storyboard, which describes what happens in every measure, is posted to the Glitter Emergency Website.

There's much to write about the film but this first post is reserved for a photo series on how to decorate the violin of a mephistophelean superhero, in this case named Stringendo.

Step #1: Hit pawn shop on Mission and plunk down $80 for Chinese violin, bow, case, crumbling cheap-ass rosin, Suzuki Method Vol. 1 and pad of manuscript paper.

If violin is cheap enough, you should be able to do your make-up in reflection.

Step #2: Strip violin of pegs, strings, bridge, tailpiece, fine-tuners, and tailpiece. Get your sandpaper ready.

Step #3: Summon all the frustration you ever felt learning the instrument, and sand.

Step #4: If you intend to play the violin after makeover, protect the fingerboard and neck with painting tape.

Step #5: Hang the violin in a well-ventilated area.

Step #6: Blast Prince in well ventilated area, shaking paint can for two minutes after rattle engages.

Step #7: Spray away.

Numerous light coats work best and prevent unsightly drips.

Step #8: Figure out something fancy for the ribs. Decide on a piece of holographic contact paper you have not quite enough of, and turn San Francisco upside-down in search of comparable replacement. Six hours later, give up.

Step #9: Consider alternatives.

Step #10: Despair.

Step #11: Put violin aside in frustration and paint bow. Protect horsehair in Ziplock baggie.

Step #12: Remembering theme of your movie, drizzle fine glitter onto wet silver-glitter acrylic paint.

Step #13: Repeat for bow.

Step #14: Repeat for scroll.

Step #15: Repeat for bridge.

Step #16: Glue rhinestones to purfling.

Step #17: Replace parts and have a photo shoot.