![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWxcQ4D_yIWG3eWk0XMOO5Q8j0hsOU8XR1A4wabt9Dlv2adjvH7l9-V1n7w61IxL7V_k2E_NtzjLc5q23TkTnWE6RdoHrGizRliI6wBq8U1gP2307TS6PHfnIH0_DXphJi9pLlg/s400/Runway+Runway,+Bonnie+on+the+catwalk.jpg)
(Above: Bonnie, #2 on the runway, wearing the dress created from artificial flowers collected from cemetery dumpsters.)
Today I feel like I'd been run over by a truck. I'm old. I can no longer "party" to the wee hours of the morning, several nights in a row. I need EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP and I haven't been getting it! Why? Thursday was Earth Day and Artista Vista; I worked all day and was out until 2 AM. Friday was Runway Runway; I worked all day and was out until 2 AM. On Saturday I worked on xylene photo transfers until I went to the Dining With Friends Aids Benefit party; I was out until 11 PM. I finished over 33 photo transfers for my
Decision Portrait Series on Sunday, fell into bed at 11 :30 and woke up exhausted. The pace and late night hours caught up....
BUT IT WAS FUN!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUhTPAyjz22V1enEGKJlxsx00p-REpTSV_vUkPCz0T-2lyzVQ_VQPEVGwCbn84lRjEMELchdOPIkPcsYhGb1G9is7IBib6dxFZxiWDDXmNBopR7HJDBtIQT7o2lj2MLrXud6m1Q/s400/Runaway+Runway,+Bonnie+and+me,+small.jpg)
I already posted the photos from Thursday. I forgot to take any on Saturday....so, here's the images from Runaway Runway. No, my dress made entirely of artificial flowers from the cemetery dumpsters took no award. I honestly didn't think it would. This is an event that is "for the fun of it". Some of the garments were spectacular; some were just plain silly; some were very clever uses of discarded items; some are likely in a landfill now. Remember....
this was for fun. I embraced the "fun" aspect of it and provided my model with a live prop: a tall male model dressed only in a geranium covered dance belt tossing artificial flower blossoms from an over-sized basket....trailing behind her, tossing petals into the air. The roar from the crowd was so loud that the dress description wasn't audible. Cameras flashed like mad. It was a sensation and can be seen on a video made by The State Newspaper
HERE. (The clip is within the first 21 seconds after an annoying 30 second car ad.) A dress made from the old college card catalog cards took the top prize.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMOHWuIz5EpywU5fh4jaKxmkbc93gkwEs_hxCeEE7nQWbIwtFGYs0XyJXH2u4dbYYEI9uQcWiWqZgWlNjIUMDObRuVKdjmA_lPoeRmIeUKpXFigm_mNvEYUL2H8FvMSf_uECMVw/s400/Runaway+Runway,+recycling+is+sexy.jpg)
Because I was a "designer" I had to be on site by 5 PM. Many of the designers were still "putting together" their outfits, gluing things on, taping problem areas. Of course, my outfit really IS A DRESS....washable, wearable, and slipped on over the head in about 15 seconds or less. This gave me a lot of time to watch the event set up. The doors opened at 6. The "entertainment" started at 7 and the girls came down the runway at 7:30. The theme of recycling was beautifully everywhere....from the "Recycling is Sexy" t-shirt clad guys bringing in "green" trash bins...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30VuwQ0iBpfzC8jXnGsRTvA1xN1pAYMlo63SW_OrgDhP74B6jIyqqD05LJ62o-OJ7arM4DKcZZAK35-DQo1a7U9Mh5D661XNnJfjJ_89z-KqySsqy7nRVJZRBZdGffeDy6vHuBA/s400/Runaway+Runway,+recycling+containers.jpg)
....to the Fetzer "Earth Friendly Wine".....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18URSw4n-c3kfi9W09CL9FHTE9SWQliyQvL7NujCdr031JGvF0fWRc_IsAaYie1mbA8lNg_CM9jmfdgp_UdJz4Gb2pgKv7INtsDx-NHrZ1jI4WwJuDg1jsCjzfpE3W7pjrQCq4A/s400/Runaway+Runway,+Fetzer,+eco+friendly+wine.jpg)
...to the 360 Eco-friendly Vodka...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxnlSKRE02QnErlrA7gjncaQAlUnV4pc-J9ISaRpiuK-W4OFVn2RFpemhWq6CaXGg9yyG7512z3Er1BxpepV0klXXnTBfX6kqq4P76vDd4ObW4EzvT3MYBlX3ODIs7_pzHMSiHg/s400/Runaway+Runway,+eco+friendly+vodka.jpg)
....to the recycled gift pins that were presented to all the judges by Runaway Runway, chairman, Gene Bell (below)!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUUvGOtdn62XVo66vO2Y0IGjwxe681urIb-e1FkkYqVTu9QiohuREtwqZnaTufCskv14ujTg_AReWhcRpamELOf6ZCngbKzCU7NsxHk0ypJLYVdugm6Iisq4jxn23L18EPdeLpg/s400/Runaway+Runway,+Gene+Bell.jpg)
There were fourteen judges, most local celebrity types and people associated with the Columbia Design League, the group hosting Runaway Runway.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32tMoBEMFoRHs-paWctw7hjnwLoZ80fjlAE2odKHpOsNRLMziYMjkFfj8AJDwiItmoEsvvDrn_PU96c9RJxtC7K1xQi27HYMW577Tlai7TLBqtJRSK-WM2iNTPrpwhtkPZ3s4Qw/s400/Runaway+Runway,+judges+seats.jpg)
The judges spent some time backstage chatting with the models who were lined up by number. Bonnie was obviously #2.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84P7ymdvMNWS2zdv9Tzherst76aYKxlLI1o61uUvF4X9zOoO55RYrDCCv1Rc-iENalNlUPhz-2yHx_v_NlFZrVnedewqny6aLqpoGLEL6wRG-_qDbhZh6vC4fAxEb_Est5vFd5A/s400/Runaway+Runway,+Bonnie,+small.jpg)
The following images are from this time backstage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sz-Gevh9Kam7qRYddOkbyeWoqrUqREmr1CY6dMVcOrxEybn5oDwRxhzs6okyOH5bGB4RM1VFAJv2vPn6GRDvyIl5TLMBhPavjohNfSMsrFBMZLaw2gny-SZyclJvDYIxXuebjg/s400/Runaway+Runway,+backstage+jurying.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpDueiivdXnNbS3dKhiu6IedlXauE1tf2BnVWuZkYrHFphe6igXEwHQYZW1xrSYeFJgwDiWwTQYVBOrGa1SSdAn2sK40tduRfLKwraeUF5a_JmV3gxLLsy-P6OApQt693rTgzNA/s400/Runaway+Runway,+backstage+jurying,+3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yvCgYAOxH37vpLJmt8kUJ5bCSdLJ4hUQj6aMbxAh_sXb7bzowsNtyyXgBJe6QHFHEdtB9hMwsjJUq0IDfEL0FBUAViDu7qf1-UxM3MLkkrDQOebvFvReyH-048YoFrpa8SwjQg/s400/Runaway+Runway,+backstage+jurying,+2.jpg)
Then, five drag queens put on a fantastic pre-runway show. (This was an
OVER 21 Only crowd....except for a few entries who had to have parental permission to participate!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOH1pHtcKse0hi0DaXOUOxZgPNuqOsZQz4vdfSrnIUJb9WOBMi_yPlC7dM_xgF8dvW4rc_d_gc60OEZOccyBCwFZd8AH-8AXQBT1Hwaa7F9SyhS1UQEDeXFt3KsBhmS52M_VV4WQ/s400/Runaway+Runway,+The+Lady+Chablis+makes+an+entrance.jpg)
Then The Lady Chablis, famous from the book
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, took total command of the catwalk....strutting her stuff....lip-syncing and teasing and wiggling....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-5R0kS-KmPWhqYll1F0odzTdRQ19Pg6xeoGjanz1s32Zoo59o3MpyDZa0GGVVyJaefZNR3AawsY1fXZnmvf_Xv7jR31yT1RQA8SnPjIUQ8pOWAgAs4EuIs9LslCKpZl8dxoDlQ/s400/Runaway+Runway,+The+Lady+Chablis+entertains.jpg)
....and even stepping down onto the front row seats.....mingling with the crowd and flirting with the numerous cameras. It was a treat. She's two older than me.....hard to believe!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDUj2aRYpnugpBeBW9SBRNpevsIKp53XEKV0VV7QHJ9TJESomKhAAZT6GO8_8VyT7c4dTX_Dp0HZHffBBnXwvoLtm9sLj2WfTLeJ8z848GXFN5gfXHX0_AT5gHM0i3PUKJg6DKA/s400/Runaway+Runway,+The+Lady+Chablis+circulates+in+the+crowd.jpg)
Then the show started!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwxdhWGNLxGHJdh8zWV-vkaDQQKZ83Y090g9dq92ROj1eCyi7rBHTJmqet3_1tYhoUcq3hcQmwDltcpCsFCPY1vRjgSzeBi5IEcD3HBZcV8fDtHa-cWE6hlrrqpZvy4JokR90mg/s400/Runaway+Runway,+Bonnie+and+Maurice.jpg)
Bonnie looked great! As I mentioned above, her "prop" was fantastic.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3IDmJk6Go0HvOgtV0gaoRmQq-yTDYjTItHoA0KatPS1bfReg1HTgvGYSJBqFEmkwypsNuhHwpdeBNv4uwEKSsHb7D4hvQ06Wjagvfb5DS5_YMh7wRtff6Tdo3YD5x8WlzhwYyQ/s400/Runway+Runway,+all+the+models+on+stage,+2.jpg)
When all 48 had their quick minute up and down the catwalk, all were brought back in....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLM5IblZlkNkOZH-DciRSaK0z8IoJ6Rro592FSUQm__HG00T8LTXix6yIdqYVDyo1XsFtRR7aiyMPujVNv2VFOSEBikJ9iTQ3vN3dzjIh07WVCdtZlgVA_3HcRSebS5pSy8h0Og/s400/Runway+Runway,+all+the+models+on+stage.jpg)
...for one last look....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_iq2niqHEW7QO1YUb5YLmDONIvSQqmFi8V4HlQbaSylOEy2L1PIToNBmJn49x0RWSl_HWZJiAiD79WYL7isxeOXXrnsdYkOApBP_YS5gKCdr9HTKrWjpXm3CBXdRYOfb3-N9eA/s400/Runaway+Runway,+emcee,+Gene+Bell,+and+Bonnie+projected+on+wall.jpg)
...while images, like the one with Bonnie above, were projected onto the walks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_H3DQ1G5z2qH1cCvdpA8cTUXdtMA1eWqMFthNToAl0gSPw0mMpYsP9L78DQdM9Zeaz_bXenyvjuA8LhzdppQ61TAGbeLVQsSYEL5ATLPzkTWf60nO8jHbSo-do_qYgwBZEj71eg/s400/Runway+Runway,+Paige+Haas+and+me+sitting+on+runway.jpg)
My other cemetery flower dress was worn by a friend Paige Haas. We posed for one another....and for dozens of other people too!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUOswM6HEGU9drCk-Iw09B05AQsoXcHlH4ZvAPvc-0bZpqOIUwhZu7K-SoYSd10gwiLEymKocV_RGehhAUCpN0rBUAr2aj6l8lL_2tvUkUaWjm5KAK74ssRet81rRl5OruirGsw/s400/Runaway+Runway,+Paige+in+artificial+flower+dress.jpg)
Here's Paige above and her (below) with our mutual friend Kirkland Smith, who also has a studio at Gallery 80808/Vista Studios and is very well known for her recycled trash assemblages.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskM1_a0ztHd9qocQUDiGmdQNxjzaKpIl3rHqk15GRj-lnmAXcbd5KMrnbDnpoNd7eCJeRQ8nUgfYr9DVRLf181qxkXtJ5xpLkOBJcGa_wIhusXSCXoUjPP0oBvejqjUuQ1DxPog/s400/Runaway+Runway,+Paige+Haas+and+Kirkland+Smith.jpg)
Maria Vick, a new friend, posed with Paige and I. She was one of the event volunteers.....who had to wear black instead of something "fun".
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmAzhDkb5ujSBDrpYjBZfFLBrJTQ19xFHqaU9hJKlPOxAzs81LQYvFjMKASxlsfjl3G7Dm0nOIDuixGtIWPNS7o9dIRGSe0U9dUpIagLFRlHGAbiAngPb9JQuq3Y8CDimGBfJAg/s400/Runaway+Runway,+Maria+Vick,+Paige+Haas,+and+me.jpg)
So....that was Friday. Scroll up for my weekend of xylene photo transfers and an update on the
Decision Portrait Series.