This embroidery took me one full year to complete (begging early January 2023 and fishing end of January 2024) and is a reaction of the wallpaper pattern in my bedroom from my childhood home in New Jersey. I believe this pattern is from sometime in the 1950-70s. I tried to complete one full section of the pattern repeat. I looked at this wallpaper so much it’s burned into my memory. This project was a huge time investment and I have a lot of emotions about finally finishing.
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It was made intently to fluoresce under UV black light. The fabric was hand dyed using a combination of pomegranate skin and turmeric (which is known to glow in UV light). I used a combination of neon and plane embroidery thread so not all of it glows and it is almost a surprise what dose and dose not stand out in the light. Between the empty spaces are florescent glass beads that look quite unassuming when left unlit. All of it is finished with glow in the dark thread. It is meant to be viewed in both lighting conditions.
I made this glow to mimic the way the wallpaper would swirl and morph in the dark at night when I would stare at it under the glow of moon light, the flow of my lava lamp, or the way it would dance under the color changing reading lamp I was so so fond of. I can still smell it. I can still see all the places where I wrote in pencil about people I crushed on in school. |
'What to do with a blood thirsty beast? Off with his head! Or something like that...
"Ecstasy of a Monstrous Death," Mixed Media Fiber Arts, 2024, Z. Fondanarosa The neck ruff used to create these images has been one of my fastest creations to date, only taking a week from fabric to photo ready. It was created using simple white muslin, synthetic blood, and, by the gods, a LOT of hand stitched glass beads. It was a more elaborate take on my neck piece from the famous "Guillotine Dress". |
“The Weight of Sentimental Greed” was made using a combination of multiple ideas and techniques to challenge the concepts of collage. I used a combination of new synthetic textiles mixed with a patchwork of fabric that was reclaimed from old clothing I no longer needed. The clothing was a combination of garments I’ve acquired from thrifting for my personal wardrobe, hammy-downs from my mother, brother, father, and lover… all things I had a hard time bringing myself to throw away despite them no longer serving me.
We often discard our textiles these days with out a second thought. The clothing covering our bodies absorbs memories, traumas, love, time, it’s all so extremely personal and intimate. It pains me so many people are so quick to shed these memories from their lives. I gave these garments a new life as something fresh. Thought patchwork and a mix of couture sewing and costume magic I’ve created an otherworldly garment fit for a fairy dumpster diving in the modern world. The forms are meant to both be sharp and organic, old and new, glamor and ‘garbage’. The garment is fully embellished with reclaimed vintage glass beads, hand stitched on one by one in an effort for me to take the time needed to part with the fries tied into the fibers that have been transformed. |
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“Oh to Build a Chain-link Fence Around Your Heart (Struck by Lighting)” Glass Beads and Muslin on Reclaimed Silk Sleep Shirt, Approximately 2’x2’, 2023, Z. Fondanarosa
Heavy glass weighing on the silk. Weighing like thoughts on the mind. Veins and lighting are one and the same. We are made from electricity. I had this idea for months and planned out exactly how I wanted to do it before I started which streamlined the process. Work time was 5-10 hours over 1 week. I stitched muslin inside to stabilize the garment so the silk wouldn't shred from the weight of glass beads. I also used it as a way to sketch the outline of where I wanted to put the veins. After that it was down to just stitching each glass bead on one by one individually. |
New images of the Guillotine Dress form drag appearance at the opening of "Kaleidoscope" at The Academy SF, San Francisco, CA, 2023 |
“The Guillotine Dress” Mixed Media (Cotton muslin, acrylic paint, glass and plastic beads, fake blood, synthetic boning, embroidery thread, synthetic lace, synthetic twill, and silk), 2022, Z. Fondanarosa Off with their heads and let this lavish beauty belong to those who create it, you may never have immortality no matter how vast your pockets may be. To see behind the scenes and extra content CLICK HERE! |
Dreamer CostumeThis costume was made for my most recent short film "Ego Death"
The Dreamer costume was 100% hand sewn with out a machine. The body was made from my Undertaker costume (featured in God Watching) with some significant changes. The shirt and skit are white cotton with synthetic lace, hand dyed with black ink and fake blood. The corset was made using an altered free to use pattern, this was my first corset ever. It is hand sewn from black cotton and "soft boned" with cotton rope. The tassel earrings are made from embroidery floss, the blindfold is black cotton and elastic and the veil is just one yard of lace fabric pined to my skull. Modeling and makeup was done by me. Photography was taken by Slug Yoshida ©Z Fondanarosa 2020 |
Nightgown Costume
Black and white test shot from production. These were taken to test the color translated to high contrast black and white to match our film we were using.
This costume was made for my most recent short film "Ego Death" The Night Gown costume was 100% hand sewn with out a machine. The costume was made from a destroyed antique night gown. I deconstructed the usable parts and reassembled it into this costume. The red parts were dyed using a mix of beet root, prickly pear and fake blood dye I made. The only parts not made from the gown was the wig, tights and ballet shoes. Photography was taken by Jules Cunningham ©Z Fondanarosa 2020 |
Nymph CostumeThis costume was made for my most recent short film "God Watching/ βλέποντας τον Θεό"
The Nymph costume was made from unbleached muslin and hand sewn with embroidery thread. It was dyed with homemade pomegranate die, beet juice, and grape juice. The patterns were made by and tailored to me. Horns are from a real deer, tassel earrings were made from embroidery floss. Accents include safety pins, deer tooth necklace, and a pomegranate. Modeling and makeup was done by me. Photography was taken by Chai Tang 2018 Now Including bloopers and BTS! |
Nymph (On set Chicago, IL)These shots were taken in late October in front of Lake Michigan and I was so cold. These are my favorite shots and this was by far the best time filming. This would not have been possible without my two lovely friends Ray and Bobby.
Photography was taken by Chai Tang 2018 |
Nymph (After Purification)This is taken after I have been spit on and covered in copious amounts of red liquid (juice) and after pomegranate has stained the fabric.
Photography was taken by Chai Tang 2018 |
Undertaker CostumeThe undertaker costume was made from white bleached muslin and hand sewn with embroidery thread. The accents are made from red velvet. The patterns were made by and tailored to me. Modeling and makeup was done by me.
Photography was taken by Chai Tang 2018 |