STATIC - Projection Design
STATIC is a Boston based drag performer, community organizer, and the host and founder of GAY BASH'd, a monthly drag variety show. I have had the honor of creating several animations to be shown as on-screen visuals during STATIC's lip sync performances.
(2023) Sunset by Caroline Polachek Lipsync
I had seen Caroline live just days before I was approached by STATIC to create the projection design for their lipsync to Sunset. It seems like every time STATIC commissions my work I teach myself a new workflow. For Sunset, I used Blender to animate the entire piece. I had made some rudimentary models with shoddy textured before, but Sunset required me to not only perfect these, but also create procedural volumetric clouds and simulated particle system stars. STATIC's performance complimented the piece beautifully.
Below is the full piece as it was projected.
STATIC performing a lip sync number to Sade's "No Ordinary Love" At Gay Bash'd Boston, September 4, 2020
(2021) No Ordinary Love by Sade Lipsync
I was more than honored to be asked by local drag legend STATIC to create this projection design. This piece was my first ever projection design, which proved to be challenging.
STATIC's vision for the performance was strong - they needed a LOT of flies, until the screen was full and my computer was practically smoking. My job was to animate this many flies quickly while still having them be visually appealing. I was lucky to have come across some elegant solutions I may have otherwise not thought of. This piece was animated entirely in After Effects and Adobe Animate.
Below is the full animation which was projected onto STATIC at Gay Bash'd Boston (9/4) and BUSHWIG in New York (9/12)
CONTENT WARNING: This animation contains flashing that may be triggering for those effected by photo-sensitivity.