Fairmont vs. Mt. Notre Dame
Miami Valley styles
'Tis the Season Festival
Masque menagerie
Put your best face forward at Masquerage
Thursday, October 18, 2007
There are two stated requirements for those attending Masquerage on Saturday — "appropriate public attire" and a mask.
What the appropriate public attire entails and what those masks look like will be widely left up to the individuals wearing them, event organizers say.
Extras
Some partygoers will dress to the nines in ball gowns and tuxedos while others will don jeans and T-shirts. Still others will dress like Cirque du Soleil acrobats or Studio 54 go-go dancers.
As for the masks, expect a variety. At past balls there have been leather masks, gas masks, Victorian-inspired masks, painted-on masks and ultra ornate homemade feather masks.
Masquerage committee member Brent Johnson still has the ship mask his father wore to the event a few years ago.
There will be plenty of razzle and dazzle at Masquerage, but Johnson and Masquerage Chair Monica Bartley said many will opt for simple store-bought masks with added feathers or not.
Comfort should be key, they said.
"Put it on and make sure you are going to be able to wear it all night," Johnson said. "No matter how great the mask is, in the end it is about having a great time."
Johnson and Bartley said the people who attend the long-anticipated event are part of the decoration, and that decoration is diverse because the people are diverse.
The ball — expected to draw 1,000 and raise $130,000 — attracts a wide cross section of the community partly because of the charity it supports.
AIDS Resource Center Ohio provides HIV and AIDS prevention and education programs in addition to testing, counseling, support services and linkage to care throughout 35 Ohio counties.
"It's not a gay disease, its not a straight disease," Bartley said. "It affects everyone."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2384 or arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Making your own mask isn't as hard as you may think. All you need is glue — hot glue or otherwise — as well as scissors, a blank mask (they a cost a little more than 50 cents) and some time. We made these simple masks (left) in less than an hour.
Feathers — We used a variety — marabou, turkey and ostrich — purchased on the cheap at Michaels craft store in Washington Twp.
Glitter— Now who doesn't have glitter laying around the house? If you don't, you can get it at almost any craft store for a few bucks.
Accents — We used acrylic crystal stars. A pack of 20 Crafting Expressions stars was $2.99 at Michaels. There is a variety of acrylic jewels out there.
Something shiny — search around the craft store or your home for items that can be used in unexpected ways. These decorative Christmas lemon leaves were discounted.
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Don't have a mask yet? No problem
The options are very glittery for those planning to attend this Saturday's Masquerage.
This year's ball's theme is Glam Rock Odyssey for the freaky, sci-fi, all dolled-up, post-hippie musical movement that took hold in England and some parts of the United States in the early '70s.
There can't be glam without glitter and plenty of glitter at that. Where would Ziggy Stardust be without stardust?
Don't despair, organizers are loose in their interpretation of "Glam Rock." Everything from Abba to Bianca Jagger-inspired looks will be seen at Masquerage.
Masquerage Chair Monica Bartley and committee member Brent Johnson said a craft store may be the first place to start for those looking to build their own masks.
Buy a blank mask for under a dollar and add feathers, beads and artificial bling. Of course, you could go for a pre-designed mask, then personalize it by adding more feathers, beads or bling.
For those looking to add a design directly to their face, Johnson, co-owner of Square One salons, suggested using rhinestones. Eyelash adhesive can easily make those shiny little puppies stick to your face, he said.
Masks will be on sale during the event and Toledo-based makeup artist Kelly Huess will draw on makeup for $15 to $35 before the event at Therapy Cafe from 4 until 7 p.m.
A free drawn-on mask is included with a $140 Red Ribbon Level ticket.
Huess said those who opt to draw on their own make should seek out water-based, theatrical makeup which is more likely to stay put and won't run like grease-based paints.
For more information or to arrange an appointment with Huess, visit www.airodynamic.net.
MAC Cosmetics and Square One also will do makeup by appointment. For Square One call (937) 461-2222. For MAC call Macy's at the Dayton Mall at (937) 439-2152 and ask for the MAC cosmetics counter.
How to go
What: Masquerage
Who: AIDS Resource Center Ohio and Levin Family Foundation
When: Saturday, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Where: The Merc, 617 E. Third St.
Cost: $50 general admission or $140 for the Red Ribbon Level.
Tickets will be sold through Friday at Boston Stokers locations, Square One Salon locations, Lexus of Dayton, The Envelope Ltd., AIDS Resource Center Ohio and www.masquerage.org. Tickets will also be sold at the door during the event.
More information: call 461-2437, Ext. 2025 or visit www.arcohio.org.
